We just got two interesting sad telling depressing rumors about Charlottesville food businesses that appear to be dying.
First rumor about the potential closing of a town staple Crozet Pizza comes from a trusted Villain:
A friend just told me that Crozet Pizza may be closing down. I don’t know anything more than that, but it thought it was a worthy note.
We wonder about this one, especially considering all the growth that is happening in Crozet.
The second rumor comes from a very reliable birdie that has always been right. This time it appears Java Java is up on the auction block:
Java-Java is for sale. The economy has sent many a latte drinker to traditional coffee and since the mall has much more reasonable priced coffee (fair trade/organic small cup for .95 less than a block away…) they have suffered. First they kicked the milkman out and began making Sams club runs and some other stuff.
Not sure of the price, but since The Bean (at 225 sq feet) sold for 50K cash recently, some money might change hands…that is if he is still not upside down on his upfit.
Sad times indeed. Do we have any more info?
Related posts:
- Ivy Road Java Java Closing?
- Sign of Our Times Part 2: Crush Wine Shop For Sale?
- Plan 9 Closing Sale!
Sadlly, the Crozet Pizza news isn’t surprising, given the poor quality of the past couple of years. But I am sorry to hear that JavaJava might be changing hands. I hope it’s just that and not a shutdown, too.
Ahem, I hate to point out that the Hook ’splained this in June, but they did:
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2006/06/13/crozet-pizza-to-be-demolished/
And in other news, I hear the Box is opening soon.
How many thousands of paper plates have been wasted in Crozet Pizza… Not very hippie like to throw away plastic forks and plates…
please definitely keep me posted about the opening of the box.
/i hear they will have noodles.
Err, that Hook story is from June 2006, no less.
Went to Crozet Pizza just once. Charming. Mediocre pizza.
not surprised to hear about CP, i think i’ve only ever seen it open once in the 10+ years i’ve lived and visited here.
@4 – excellent point! I stopped eating at Marco and Luca’s as I just got tired of seeing so many styro containers being thrown away. Same with Just Curry, too much waste of those plastic containers. Especially since there are so many viable green alternatives these days.
I have a feeling we’re going to see some more closures in the next 6 months.
I am not surprised about Java Java. Several times I tried to go there on Sundays (when Shenandoah Joe’s is closed; my preferred coffee) and their hours said that they were open, but they were closed anyway. Now they have ditched Sundays altogether, but still sometimes close early. Even though they are doing it in an attempt to save money, I think it only furthers their decline in the end.
On a side note, what about Salad Creations (in the Holsinger building)? I have no news on them, but every time I walk by there is absolutely nobody in there. I have trouble believing that they can stay in business on just the occasional salad. I like their salads, but worry that the bad location and chain status will finish them off. Thoughts?
@8: Here’s an idea: take your own container. You take reusbale cloth bags to the grocery store, dontcha?
I would have thought most cvillains went commando
@10 – Nanny, you’re not allowed to do that. I’ve asked. It’s against the health codes. I know it doesn’t make sense, but them’s the breaks. But, the JC containers are recyclable. They city takes mine all the time, and they have a bin at the one on the Corner.
@13: What? That would be so cool. Damn you health code. I always wanted to get one of those tiered metal containers the Indians carry around.
stanley’s gonna getcha for that nanners.
For what? Being worldly?
shenan – I actually used to bring a tupperware container with me to restaurants in case of leftovers, but man oh man did I have to endure some really sharp looks from people including some major stink-eye one night at Mono Loco.
The last time I ate at M&L, I asked them to use a little container I had with me and they got weird on me.
I used to bring home my Just Curry containers and wash them and reuse them.
It got easier to just skip eating at either place.
I used to carry a coffee cup with me as well, but certain coffee shops would tell me that they weren’t allowed to fill my cup directly due to some kind of health code regulations, so they’d pour me a cup in a mug and then I’d have to pour it into my travel mug.
Be easier if some places would just use real plates and such.
There is not one more worldly, nor more laudable for it. But, Shen–I don’t think the Indians had metal, until they took a bunch of it away from General Custer. Unless you mean the OTHER Indians, the ones that are relieving all of SNL of their jobs after the pending layoffs/outsourcing.
By March, it’ll be the SNL guys schlepping those tin serving-dishes around.
/sutteeeeeeeeeeee not salaaaaaaaaaaad.
@17 at starbucks when you bring a travel mug, don’t they use the paper cup to write your name on then throw it away? brilliant!
/got in a fight with a barrista in charlotte airport whom i asked for a pen & she tried to give me a highlighter so i asked for a sharpie & insisted they didn’t have sharpies, despite my sharpie-written name on my sub-par frappuccino.
I’ve never had any trouble getting the nice kids at Greenberry’s to fill a travel-mug without tossing out a paper-cup. They will, however, dump out anything in your mug and rinse it out–spoiling more than one would-be irish-coffee.
Wait, Java-Java is FAIL and for sale? Didn’t we just talk about them calling the cops to issue a no-patronage order or writ banning MallStar Natalie from the premises?
/karma’s a bitch, eh gang?
@20 psst! you can put the liquor in after the coffee!
and to be doubly on topic: crozet pizza is gud. kind of like fabio’s, which is closer. neither of which i’ve had for years.
/love pizza
//shen?
@22
i know! but then you have to carry TWO travel mugs–one empty for the coffee, and another with various alcohols. that’s killing like twice as many plastic and aluminum trees.
i hear great things about fabio’s, but the exterior and location frighten me—is it good stuff? i think christian’s though awesome isn’t technically pizza—can’t present a defense of that statement.
Dr. Ho’s is tasty, but the staff scares the bejeezus out of me.
/tweaker space-zombies!!!!
She meant in a dabba darling
had fabio’s pizza recently, sucked. liked crozet pizza, but not remotely in the hood. like sal’s the best, most like real italian pizza.
Have you guys heard of this Mellow Mushroom joint on the corner? It’s totally unique to Charlottesville and their pies are toats authentic.
/please. I kid.
//not entirely bad, though. Loves those pretzels.
not bad at all. best.
I’m so over Christian’s pizza…I admit, I must have bad luck as I always seem to catch that place while the selection consists of 1 or 2 pizzas that look old and crusty.
Plus, there’s a fabio looking guy downtown – well, not quite fabio, but he’s a bit of a pretty boy, anyway, on a few different occasions, that guy has grabbed pizza with his unwashed, ungloved hand that was just wiping counters with a rag or some such other unsanitary type of activity.
Sals’ in Crozet is MUCH MUCH MUCH better than Crozet Pizza. i’ve lived in Crozet for 8 years and went to CP once only because i was given a gift certificate. the quality was horrible and i expressed my displeasure and the employee just shrugged her shoulders, so i walked out and NEVER went back.
cya, so long, good luck…..
Note that I usually stick to plain chesse pizza. But if a pizza joint can’t even get that right, I feel that says a lot.
Christian’s Pizza is outright terrible. I’d rather eat Domino’s.
Vita Nova is better.
Mellow is probably the best. Only been to Crozet Pizza once, and I’d put it right up here. Different consistency, but I like both.
It’s becoming clear that people on the internet have vastly different subjective prefences about many things, including pizza. Fascinating, really.
Dr Ho’s forevah!
And Mellow has some cool ones but too many kids around.
@32
Dr. Ho’s pizza, YES.
Mutant zonker freak lobotomized non-redneck spooky eye-balling mind-reader aliens staff, FAIL.
@33: What are you talking about? Have you been there in a while? Me and 2o4 went a couple months ago and there was an adorable owner/waiter boy, his wife? (boo!), and a former Oxo chef on the line.
@30 i get my pizza plain cheese too. that is why chad & i agree.
Plain cheese pizza is good but come one and try something else now and again. There are several marijuana posters, picture and other pot head type wall items in Dr. Ho’s…. Best pie around these parts. Makes Christian’s taste like Geno’s Pizza rolls….
@36, @34
was there a month ago and when i walked in, it was like i was suddenly in Night Of The Living Dead. Not that the staff were un-aesthetic (your cute-boy), just that they seemed not to comprehend or form sentences in English. A notice-able human disconnect. As if by, as in @36, a HEAVY dose of tweed pre-shift.
Plain cheese pizza is good but come one and try something else now and again.
I occasionally venture into the realm of pepperoni.
I am nowhere near the foodie that the majority of people on this site seem to be. I don’t understand about half the words in the food reviews — I had no idea aioli was even a word before cvillain.
@38 “I occasionally venture into the realm of pepperoni.”
me too.
i will eat anything, but not on pizza. it’s sacred.
@ 38 I occasionally venture into the realm of pepperoni
Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Now ALL I can think of is some pimply faced teen eating pizza and forcing a stick of pepperoni up his special area.
Since we’re talking about pizza now, I don’t eat pizza much, but a group of us shared a Popeye at Dr. Ho’s, and it was awesome. Easily worth the trip.
Also awesome, Fabio’s Cheesesteak. Try it if you haven’t.
as to the java java comments. it is NOT closing. and the karma that is coming back on us because of the natalie issue must be good karma because business has been steady and latte drinkers are still coming in for their organic fair trade drinks. a great group of people work there and there are TWO sides to every story i would guess most have heard the bitter side of ONE person.
@43
cool—thank you for replying directly to the rumor about the closing. we’re delighted you’ll be open still, not joking in any way when i say there cannot be too many coffee-places in town and differentiated along lines of atmosphere, clientele and quality/flavour (easier to change your mind than your cafe).
as to the Natalie issue. it was again JUST rumor, intended to have been phrased in the form of a question. Could you speak to it, to quash the broad public speculation and potential misunderstanding? WAS JavaJava the place that got an injunction from the po-pos to keep Natalie away?—and what IS the story behind it (in polite terms if possible without too much detail or personal attack)?—none of us know anything about it except in the vaguest terms, not from JJ itself nor from Natalie herself. what’s the scoop?
and again thank you, congratulations, and best wishes for your continued success!!!
Second @44’s reasonable request. I personally know quite a few people who won’t set foot in JavaJava any longer due to the exclusion of Natalie. Perhaps an explanation is in order?
Oh, Natalie was clearly kicked out of the store and given a full “no trespass” by the store which was delivered by the police. I spoke with her and said that it was completely their right to do so and no explanation needed to be given. It is not a public place, but a private place in which they can decline service to anyone they wish.
But Karma can be a bitch and perhaps if it had been handled a bit more discreetly. I mean really, “Hey call the cops on the cross dresser camping at that table!”
And who said Java-Java was closing. I read up top that it is up for sale, nothing more. But really, the coffee is really pretty pricey…
@46
Fascinating. I’ve never heard of it without explicit cause–skipping out on a bar tab, grabbing someone’s tit, starting a barfight, shoplifting (all without pressing charges–a ‘deal’ between the establishment and transgressor). Wouldn’t exclusion without explanation be tantamount to a HATE-CRIME; excluding a cross-dresser same as excluding an AIDS-sufferer or handicapped person or someone of a certain race? Don’t those protections extend into any establishment serving the public (even though privately-owned)?
Natalie is a patio-dweller. Aren’t the Mall patios USED by restaurants at the pleasure of the City (for rent), governed by the guidelines of the Mall (hence restaurants cannot make a non-smoking patio, for example)? It seems that Natalie would be afforded CIVIC protection on the patio in surplus to that guaranteed by other varied laws within the store?
Curiousity–not suggesting JavaJava did anything wrong, but it would be good to know what can get a non-drinking 45 yr-old UVA PhD from a wealthy family thrown out of a joe-joint for life, publicly humiliated. Sets rather a bad precedent, don’t it?
@46- So, am I correct in assuming that they felt no explanation was owed her, even one borne out of the tiniest shred of basic human decency?
“Wouldn’t exclusion without explanation be tantamount to a HATE-CRIME” — What a wonderful bit of overblown rhetoric. Of course it wouldn’t. First off, there’s no crime. Beating somebody up might be a hate crime (if racially motivated), but asking them to leave? How can you think this is the same?
I don’t believe in excluding people because of differences (crossdressing, excessive piercings, green hair, whatever), but a law about it would be a bad idea. Sort of like the town that tried to outlaw walking around with your underwear showing (not that those kids don’t look ridiculous, and I know that ‘villains are supposed to go commando, but still…)
I think I know the person involved, who seems sweet, so the karma doesn’t sound very good, but I still believe in the restaurant’s right to make that choice. As to “not suggesting JavaJava did anything wrong”, — bullshit. That’s exactly what you’re suggesting. Asking if it’s a hate crime? Putting this in all caps? Invoking racism?
I don’t especially like JavaJava — Mudhouse’s coffee tastes far better to me (I’m all about the quality of the espresso), but I thought you needed to come back to Earth.
ok, soooo out of the loop – who the heck is Natalie and why was this person (confused about gender, really) banned from said establishment.
/just curious, damn!
pppffffffffffffffff…………
*lifted cheek fart noise*
I may be wrong but I believe that dijonbray now holds the auspicious title of being the first person to e-Fart on this board. Another milestone in the evolution of our wonderful online community.
Patio, as rented becomes temp private property. And yes, kicking someone out that is not causing a disturbance is poor form. However, that does not mean that some conversation did not occur.
Now, if she were camping on a 4 top when people were waiting…
@49.
easy, easy buddy.
i put a question-mark at the end of every sentence —no declaratives. and HATE CRIME in all caps as if to say that i doubt the laws that modify sentencing based on them, since penalty for crime itself should be adequate.
and in asking questions, asking for clarification, i am explicitly not imputing impropriety to JavaJava… just outlining the rumor of impropriety to which i was asking them to respond, ie debunk, by giving details. if they choose not to respond, we are only left with speculation and same rumors. Mudhouse banned her as well, but without court-order, as did Cubano. Shenandoah Joe’s is the only place I’ve seen her recently, sitting happily and comfortably.
/i am not one of the people boycotting JavaJava, incidentally.
/sitting at mudhouse listening to the psycho scream FUCK at passers-by,
i wonder what natalie could have done in excess of that to be ejected.
@34 Thanks for all the nice comments about Dr Ho’s, but the waiter is not the owner (and not my husband). The waiter out front is Mike, my husband is chef/owner Michael, just to clarify…so feel free to come for the eye candy any time Shenanigans….
@54…sat too long with one cup of coffee looking unfashionable.
@56
i fit the unfashionable part pretty solidly, but the stiff chairs and the screaming lunatics ON-patio and passing lunatics bumming cigarettes and asking for change keep me from sitting too long—so i guess I’m safe from court-orders of no-trespass for a while.
Brutus seemed a tad huffy. did we do something to him? Thanks for your sensible replies, danpri.
i just hate to see our ‘local-color’ run off the mall. there’s little enough of it left—she’s been sitting out there for 15 years now. Sidney takes his peepee out and waggles it at people (there’s even a song about it), but i’m not aware of his being banned from anywhere. there’s the long-hair christ-figure who never bought a cup of coffee in his life and spouts irrelevancies, the other guy who tirades about the jews, and the loudmouth floutist issuing streams of profanity about stingy bourgeois f*ckheads. all seem welcome wherever they go, coffeewise.
@55: Tell Mr. Cutie-pants to keep an eye out for a drooling redhead. Drooling over the pizza and his cuteness, not drooling like a retard.
@58 a door closed in the FFA, a window opens here…. ‘nanigans got good karma
@58
positively horrifying.
It’s time to finally put all these Natalie rumours to rest. Natalie was banned from Java Java because of three incidences. The police were finally involved because she refused to comply with the managements request to not return. 1- Some of the employees allege that she was stealing self-serve coffee. They stated that when she was asked to pay for her refills she became irrate and refused. She was asked to not return but did so anyway. 2- She had a habit of not watching her mouth, which was tolerated for some months. One day she told the Baristas on duty an extremely dirty joke (complete with hand gestures) in front of a family with small children. Not only was one of the Baristas offended but the parents complained to mgt. Mgt simply asked Natalie to apologize, she refused. Then she was asked to leave, she refused. 3- Finally, Natalie began leaving letters with the Baristas to give to the owners. The staff never knew what was in them but several people who read them described them as “harassment”. After a while of this the letters and other evidence were brought to the police who then told Natalie that return to J2 would be trespassing.
@61
seems like reason enough!
thanks for clearing that up.
children shouldn’t be in coffee bars anyway.
@63, AMEN. God forbid the leetle cheeldrun should see or hear something odd or different– they might ask questions, or learn something. Doesn’t anybody have any resilience any more? Welcome to the homogenization of Charlottesville, it’s LCD time.
If Natalie were one of our oafish tweed-clad millionaires telling an off-color joke, and helping himself to an occasional free cup of bad coffee, then the point would be moot.
Good for Shenandoah Joe’s.
children shouldn’t be in coffee bars anyway.
Nonsense. Coffee bars and all retail locations should follow this very sound policy.
@57: Sorry if I hurt your feelings by calling you out, dungster. What if I didn’t know that it’s impossible to make a suggestion with a question mark at the end? What if I still don’t know it? We can’t all be as hip and flip as danpri.
@66
No worries Chum!!!! You were PERFECTLY in line, no rancour here. Floozy is gradually teaching me not let words hurt me. I just didn’t want you to get the idea that i thought i KNEW anything about the JJ/N situation. I was tossing around extreme possibilities, perhaps too vigorously. My question marks actually were question marks, but the way i phrased it made it seem otherwise–on rereading, i get it now; you were right to buck and whinny!
Dunno about Danpri’s hip-n-flip you mention (let you two negotiate on that one), but he had a lawyerly and highly sensible air in his replies, and a far more level head than i, so naturally I defer and nod gratefully.
java java is a coffee shop not a bar. hmmm. no children allowed so one abusive person can come in. that sounds like a much better idea.
no, you — no children allowed so all the other adults don’t have to suffer. duh.
/doesn’t care about this natalie storyline.
no you- the purpose of the comment about the children was in response to comment 64. no one is asking for censorship and certainly no one is picking on natalie because she is not wealthy. that was never the point. orchid you are entitled to your opinion so good luck finding a coffee shop with no children.
@70, coffee is primarily an adult beverage. Adults have traditionally frequented coffee shops in order to drink coffee and commune with other like-minded coffee-drinking adults. Of course children shouldn’t be banned, but the shop does not need to be dumbed down to their level. If I want to drink coffee in a daycare center, then I’ll grab a cup to go and head over to one.
Look, I wasn’t there during the events that you mentioned, but I’ve spoken with and observed Natalie for years, as well as many of the other eccentric folks that hang out at the aforementioned coffee shops. Quite a few people believe that she was probably targeted because she appears far too “different” in the eyes of some. You certainly have the right under the law to boot whomever you please. I, and others, have the right to mourn the passing of a more inclusive and diverse Charlottesville– one that was more welcoming to those who are out of the mainstream of what Charlottesville now considers the “norm.” Some of these folks literally have no place else to go. A responsible and compassionate society understands that sometimes we need to close our ears and eyes to things that may seem unpleasant or weird… and just… effin’… deal. Let these people be– the world is big enough for all of us.
Lulu… I think I am breaking up with Manchen (utter bastard Obama Rolled me) so I may be back on the market and I am DIGGING you right now… fancy a threesome?
i completely agree with everything you said lulu fishpaw. i was friends with natalie and i can assure you she was not targeted because of her eccentric personality or because she was too different. i am quite fed with the mainstream and understand it was not my decision to have natalie turned away. i did however have the view from both sides since i worked there and can understand how the owners were put in a difficult position. to me the entire situation is sad. i think more than one person was hurt by what happened during before and after. i have no desire for coffee shops to be “dumbed down”. im thankful ( especially as a parent) that there are places adults can go and not have to worry about the kids running around and being a part of every conversation. like you said let people be the world is big enough for all of us ( big and small) .
@72
/blushing
@73 Many thanks for your kind thoughts and clarification. It can’t have been an easy situation for you. I worry about Natalie, or anyone else in a similar situation, being banished like that. Not the most helpful thing when one already has the deck stacked against them by society.
Crozet Pizza is not closing, Actually will be opening a bigger, funkier, cooler dining hall right around the corner,
The Hook will get the story soon…………..
33 years of killa pies
Hi Mike. You’re cute.
Thor–
can we run with Mike’s hot tip and ’scoop’ The Hook and Cville with a full Post to include lavish praise for this venerable institution in Crozet and their exquisite product?
Mike’s hot tip. Omg.
Shit! Wrong Mike. I thought I was tlaking to Dr. Ho’s Mike. Dammit.
CP will be making its grand entry to downtown Cville very soon maybe in the old Cville weekly building????
33 years of killa pies!
@81 oh sweet jesus, you better not be floozy screwing with me again or i will be heartbroken
@81: Then you’ll have to change the name, no?
Crozet Pizza is not changing the name, they thought about different names for other locations but it would not be the same so the powers to be say keep it the same
33 years of killa pies
how do you figure 33–didn’t crozet pizza not open until 1977?
That “33 years of killa pies” thing is getting creepy. It’s kind of spammy.
do the math, mike!
He should have known that’s what we’re all about.
OK 31..9
thanks mike
why’s the website say homemade pies for 29 years? is it not updated or have they been using dominos for a 2.9 years?
I would say that website needs updating
@90 Hahahaha…Nice one orchid
I had killa pies. My doctor gave me an ointment.
/has never gotten anything but rudeness from CP. finally gave up. pies not worth it.
@93 Their pies are not exactly note-worthy, either (at CP, I mean)… Where I get my pizza is always dependent upon my mood. Hate to say it for the grease factor, but I love the pepperoni and cheese from Anna’s.
Belmont Yo,
did you feel as if it was collectivelly rudeness or isolated with one person? I would like for you to try it again give me your feedback. There will be a ticket behind the counter with your name for a large pie and drinks.
I am sorry your past experiance was not pleasent and hope you will find it more inviting and better next time
Mike