Another bar/restaurant bites the dust

[CLTProductions]

http://charlotterestauranttraffic.com/news/flamin-crawfish-coming-myers-park/#.U7VIq41dVXA

 

Nom Nom Burgers has closed, which sucks I really enjoyed that place (will have to stick with bang bang burgers now), and a Cajun place is taking over it's spot

[nonillogical]

http://charlotterestauranttraffic.com/news/flamin-crawfish-coming-myers-park/#.U7VIq41dVXA

 

Nom Nom Burgers has closed, which sucks I really enjoyed that place (will have to stick with bang bang burgers now), and a Cajun place is taking over it's spot

That does suck, their food was really great. That location might always have a little difficulty. I do think we need another Cajun restaurant though so its not such bad news overall I guess. 

[nonillogical]

The Penguin has officially closed, according to Charlotte Restaurant Traffic. I'm sure nobody is surprised, but for what was THE busiest place in town when I moved here, its still shocking in a way. Does anybody have any particular wishes or theories for what may replace it? I suspect we may be losing another beloved old sign unless the neighborhood fights to keep it. 

[CLTProductions]

The Penguin has officially closed, according to Charlotte Restaurant Traffic. I'm sure nobody is surprised, but for what was THE busiest place in town when I moved here, its still shocking in a way. Does anybody have any particular wishes or theories for what may replace it? I suspect we may be losing another beloved old sign unless the neighborhood fights to keep it. 

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/morning-edition/2014/08/lights-out-doors-locked-at-the-penguin-drive-in.html

 

Here is an article on it. Maybe it has been past its prime since I lived here, but I've had it twice and was less than impressed both times, and the service was awful. I will not miss it.

Edited August 4, 2014 by Jayvee

[HopHead]

The Penguin has officially closed, according to Charlotte Restaurant Traffic. I'm sure nobody is surprised, but for what was THE busiest place in town when I moved here, its still shocking in a way. Does anybody have any particular wishes or theories for what may replace it? I suspect we may be losing another beloved old sign unless the neighborhood fights to keep it. 

 

A sad, sad day... I remember when I first moved here years ago, it was far and away the best burger in town. Well before the "burger restaurant" craze. And the fried pickles were great. Had cheap beer too. Unfortunately, the Penguin died a few years ago when they had their falling out. This is just the nail in the coffin.

[nonillogical]

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/morning-edition/2014/08/lights-out-doors-locked-at-the-penguin-drive-in.html

 

Here is an article on it. Maybe it has been past its prime since I lived here, but I've had it twice and was less than impressed both times, and the service was awful. I will not miss it.

If that was after the ownership change (what, 3 years or so ago?) then that is no surprise. It's been a shadow of its former self ever since then but it used to be amazing. I definitely will miss it for what it used to be. 

[CLTProductions]

If that was after the ownership change (what, 3 years or so ago?) then that is no surprise. It's been a shadow of its former self ever since then but it used to be amazing. I definitely will miss it for what it used to be. 

Yup, moved here 3 years ago, and it was post mgmt change.

[ChessieCat]

As y'all know the people who sold Penguin opened Diamond about 3 years ago.  Is that doing well?

[tozmervo]

Diamond always seems to be doing a pretty good business at least in foot traffic. They've made a lot of patio improvements recently.

[km1789]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/08/04/5085525/penguin-owner-well-reopen-tuesday.html#.U9_cr0zD99A

 

false alarm...

[tozmervo]

It seems ludicrous that they wouldn't have at least posted a sign in the door announcing when they would reopen. 

[Niner National]

The best thing the lady that runs The Penguin now could do would be to sell it off.

 

Let someone new come in with the message that the current owner is out and they're hear to return it to its status as a neighborhood destination, but different than it was before (since that role is pretty much filled by the Diamond).

 

It'll never be what it used to be, but I think the name can survive. Just not with the current owner.

[go_vertical]

I have a hard time believing that it was meant to be a temporary closing. Any business owner with common sense would have put a sign up stating they would open back up on a certain day. I think they were in fact closed but figured out a way to open it back up. I do like the term "penguin watch" though. 

[CLTProductions]

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2014/08/06/paperwork-filed-to-evict-penguin-drive-in-hearing.html

 

More news on the Penguin front, this Lisa Ballentine seems to be a moron

[Niner National]

lol, a well run restaurant doesn't shut down because someone has a death in the family.

 

Just admit it Lisa, you ran a landmark into the ground. You thought it was going to be an easy and a guaranteed path to riches built on the hard work of others before you and you failed. Miserably.

 

It takes a special kind of person to make a restaurant a huge success. It takes an even more 'special' person to run a hugely successful restaurant into the ground.

[CLTProductions]

Continuing the Penguin saga, eviction is moving forward but Lisa Ballentine filed for chap. 11. She's such an idiot, just let it go, you failed

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2014/08/14/penguin-drive-in-eviction-moves-forward-burger.html

[rugger62]

Continuing the Penguin saga, eviction is moving forward but Lisa Ballentine filed for chap. 11. She's such an idiot, just let it go, you failed

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2014/08/14/penguin-drive-in-eviction-moves-forward-burger.html

I reaaaallllyyyy want to see the filing documents, but I don't have a PACER account anymore. Can the business journal not post the documents?

[grodney]

Drove by Villa Francesca this weekend and saw it is now "Italian @ 7th".  Can't find any reference to the change, other than on the Villa Fran facebook page, where they say they are now Italian @ 7th, and link to a separate facebook page under that name.  Apparently changed in July?

 

Anybody know anything?  Same or different owners/managers/chef/recipes/menu?

[DMann]

Diofferent owners.  Husband and wife breaking up, wife took the business, a lot of dirt here!

[kermit]

bummer, that was a neighborhood goto (but admittedly not very often)

[CLTProductions]

I haven't confirmed it but I had a buddy tell me that Picasso's is closing for good (maybe?) this week. Has anyone else heard anything? I am surprised given that it's location is pretty prime now.

[MilZ]

Drove by Villa Francesca this weekend and saw it is now "Italian @ 7th".  Can't find any reference to the change, other than on the Villa Fran facebook page, where they say they are now Italian @ 7th, and link to a separate facebook page under that name.  Apparently changed in July?

 

Anybody know anything?  Same or different owners/managers/chef/recipes/menu?

 

Diofferent owners.  Husband and wife breaking up, wife took the business, a lot of dirt here!

 

Just talked to Francesca... same owners but with new partners and a new start.  Grand opening this Saturday!

[Niner National]

Drove by Villa Francesca this weekend and saw it is now "Italian @ 7th".  Can't find any reference to the change, other than on the Villa Fran facebook page, where they say they are now Italian @ 7th, and link to a separate facebook page under that name.  Apparently changed in July?

 

Anybody know anything?  Same or different owners/managers/chef/recipes/menu?

I know the owner.

 

Like DMann said, it involves divorce and other personal / financial issues that I'm not going to discuss on here just because I wouldn't want someone doing the same about me.

 

I know one of the partners is one of the partners at 5Church and Nan & Byrons.

 

I used to eat there pretty regularly. I never go anymore. I liked that it was a pretty casual italian place whose entire focus wasn't on pizza with the other dishes being afterthoughts.

 

They raised their prices and you can no longer eat pizza there in the evenings (carryout only). They're in a pretty terrible location in Uptown in the middle of the Levine Desert, so I think they'll have a hard time justifying the new prices. I already thought they were a little pricey compared to Mama Ricotta's, but now their prices are completely out of line IMO. 

 

This is complete conjecture on my part, but I suspect the original owners will eventually be pushed out by the new partners.The new partners don't need them. They have other successful restaurants. They don't need to lean on the former owners for anything.

Edited September 15, 2014 by Niner National

[CLTProductions]

http://charlotterestauranttraffic.com/news/4th-ward/#.VCQKThb2Sik

 

Meant to post this last week. But 4th ward bread co had a crazy fire on Friday and is currently shut down. This article says they were doing really well, but I heard they were struggling (perhaps thats why the fire happened friday night???? Insurance money????? Speculation?????) and either way it sucks, i loved this place.

[nonillogical]

http://charlotterestauranttraffic.com/news/4th-ward/#.VCQKThb2Sik

 

Meant to post this last week. But 4th ward bread co had a crazy fire on Friday and is currently shut down. This article says they were doing really well, but I heard they were struggling (perhaps thats why the fire happened friday night???? Insurance money????? Speculation?????) and either way it sucks, i loved this place.

That really sucks, that place is great. Completely anecdotal but I have never thought it looked struggling on weekends when I have been there. I've never had to hunt too hard for a seat but it was always mostly full.