In addition to the recent rumored sale of Java Java (too many coffee shops and too many wine places in Charlottesville?), we heard Crush is trying hard to be sold.  Birdie explains:

The owner didn’t go into much detail about it, but it’s definitely sad, considering it’s a great wine shop.  I don’t know if this is old hat, but it was news to me.

How does this relate to our favorite wine connoisseur’s departure?  Anyone recall the “scariest food business from our 2007 superlatives?”

Related articles:

• Oakencroft died.
• Wine is now a private affair?

This message has been circulating to various people in Charlottesville:

Dear Friends,
It is with deep regret and heavy heart that as of August 15th I will no longer be a part of Crush Wine Shop. Crush has decided to take a different path, which will no longer include my services. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone I have had the distinct pleasure of serving. I have made many friends and acquaintances there. I will miss seeing daily my great fellow Belmontians but most of all; I will miss seeing everyone in the store and helping with wine choices and talking food. Thank you all for giving me the chance to be of service and I look forward to seeing you in the future…Oh yeah, if anyone knows of employment opportunities please let me know.
Gregg Oxley

It’s a pity.  For those of you that don’t know, Crush hosted a non-elitist wine party for us and together with another villain was one of the originators of the red panties.  Gregg, thanks for sharing wine with us, in humble fashion, and sharing in our cVillain pursuits.

We’ll miss you and hope you can find something else in Charlottesville!

We’ve heard from a reliable birdie that the former Hardware Store location is being converted to an Urban Outfitters. It makes sense given the store’s size and the standard size of U.O. shops.

If you recall, one of our other birdies told us in September that a clothing store was in the mix for a possible lease of the once famous restaurant. This does conflict with the rumor that the X-Lounge people were behind something.

We think this rumor has some wings and it looks like the cat is finally out of the bag. Thank you birdie! I’m sure mall people are not happy about this.

Update from danpri…possibly not finalized, due to a lack of official inking.

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A birdie just sent in this craigslist ad which puts the Italian Deli up for sale for $120,000 :

Italian Deli for sale on Main Street, in the heart of the UVA campus. Across from UVA Hospital. Great walk-in and catering business

We don’t know why this is for sale, but the rumor is Pacino’s didn’t make enough money.

/go figure

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike

So I just got a new job that’ll allow me to ride my bicycle to work most days. Just in time for $12/gal gas season, too. I need a bike tune-up pretty badly, but I’ve never been to a bike shop in town.

Which bike shop deserves my business?

C-ville bike and tri?

Blue wheel?

Community bikes?

Performance bike shop?

There are plenty of choices to get your running shoes.  (Thanks, Orchid)

Charlottesville Running Company – Relatively New to the Area, but I’ve heard they are good.

Downtown Athletic – Has tons of sports stuff, but not running focused.  Not actually Downtown.

Ragged Mountain Running Shop- The oldest player in town. Very good!

Did I miss anywhere?

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I am sitting on my back porch this fine Wednesday evening with a tall glass of scotch and a beautiful cigar, a Punch Gran Puro. The Punch Gran Puro is made with 100% Honduran grown tobaccos. As I am smoking this great cigar and afterwards taking a big slug of scotch, I am imagining the process of how this glorious cigar came to be in my possession. Some little Honduran boy probably picked the tobacco and then some beautiful Honduran woman (naked perhaps) rolled it into a cigar, which was then shipped across the ocean and ended up in a little shop in Charlottesville, VA known as “Aficionado’s.”

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