We got an updated tip from a reliable birdie who has some friends in the business: There is some meat to the rumor that Coran Capshaw’s restaurant group, including Blue Light Grill, Enoteca, Mas, Mono Loco, Ten and Three Notch’d, is actually on the auction block.
The birdie points out that times are very tough for food and beverages businesses, especially high end places like Starbucks. With ATO Records successful signage of new artists, do you think the Coran empire is tired of running local restaurants in tough times? It would make sense and we have a strong feeling this is the truth.
Outback Lodge had its liquor license suspended the first of the month. As a result at least one show was moved to another venue. In many cases the shows went on, but without beer sales what are you really doing but losing your ass? As word spread that there was no beer at Outback, people starting bringing beer and drinking in the parking lot (rumor).
Well it finally came around that Outback was given a deadline to renew there license or risk losing it altogether and having to re-apply. The deadline was Wednesday, August 13 I believe. The problem was that Outback supposedly had no one was willing to help them out. So in desperation, the day before the ABC was prepared to pull the Outback liquor license, the owner bought a lottery ticket AND won $100,000. (still unconfirmed).
That’s the story. Outback has music and to my knowledge beer as well, although I haven’t been in to check. But shows go on. Sound like a movie plot or something.
Is it the time when Coran Capshaw will sell off the restaurant business? Our birdie thinks so…
Is the restaurant group up for grabs? I heard something…
His restaurants include: Blue Light Grill, Enoteca, Mas, Mono Loco, Ten and Three Notch’d. T’would make sense considering the expansion into music mogulhood.
In the never ending churn of restaurant and food rumors in Charlottesville, we’ve got a particularly chatty birdie who has sent in enough gossip to fill a 5 days of post. We’ll add a tidbit or two each day this week. Here are your Escafe and Bistro rumor..
Escafe has sold to “Dancing Queen.” He has some nice ideas that we have been trying to implement for years… which will def make escafe a strictly bar scene… bring the food back?
Clyde Clive who was the original Chef of Boheme has moved to Micheals Bistro
So the haze hanging over the Michael’s Bistro kerfuffle seems to be lifting. The latest version I’ve heard (from a chorus of little birdies) is that the main owner canned a few people, precipitating a walk-out en masse by the rest of the staff.
Of course, I serve up this gossip with the caveat that hearsay is inevitably fraught with inconsistency, exaggeration, and falsehoods. Which is why it would be almost unconscionable for me to mention that I’ve also heard tell (those birdies, they sure do chirp) of a new partnership between the main Bistro owner and the chef formerly of Bohème notoriety (that there was a spicy comment section, I tell you what). Oh, and it’s with a low signal-to-noise ratio, but I’m also catching word that the other Bistro owner, who had a falling out with the majority owner, is looking to start his own joint.
Shamelessly idle gossip and rumors, no doubt. Feel free to drop your own restaurant earworms in the comments.
1. The Tavern (on Emmett) been closed since at least Saturday, with a sign on the door about re-training. (Although I haven’t looked today.)
2. The Health Department report. Do you ever look at the Virginia Dept of Health Restaurant Inspections site? Huuge time-waster. Anyway, the most recent report for the Tavern was extremely negative [link].
Thanks to Frenchy for tipping us on a new Tapas place that he/she says could fill the old Star Hill Building. Is it funded by a wealthy man from Richmond? Who is the chef? We are still curious about the details on this one, so please share. No word on the service expectations.
Secondly, a birdie let us know that the executive chef Bryan has left Ten and left C-Ville. Ten has recently hired a new executive chef.
