732 Social Closes

This is just shocking. How could possibly the cities best restaurant close? Did NuLu grow too fast? The place was ALWAYS packed. Did it close because it was losing money? Not sure how that could be.....ANy plans for a reincarnation? I thnk that concept is here to stay in Louisville.

According to the CJ article it was a lease issue with the owner of the Green Bldg.

This is just shocking. How could possibly the cities best restaurant close? Did NuLu grow too fast? The place was ALWAYS packed. Did it close because it was losing money? Not sure how that could be.....ANy plans for a reincarnation? I thnk that concept is here to stay in Louisville.

According to the CJ article it was a lease issue with the owner of the Green Bldg.

The problem is you normally don't file bankruptcy to solve a lease issue (enough to know how much we can trust the CJ). I have read several other stories about some questionable bookkeeping practices. Certainly not sure what the whole truth is and we will probably never know for sure but it's certainly the loss of a great restaurant!

This is a real shame. I'm sorry to hear it.

While a business may not normally file bankruptcy for a lease issue, putting the business in reorganization based on a lease dispute is not uncommon. The lease is such a critical element to the business and insurance, licenses, etc. are all dependent on that lease. 732 Social filed Ch. 11 to reorganize the business and ensure the lease agreement that it had been operating under was recognized and the business protected.

It is a terrible situation and I wish Jayson the best of luck. But make no mistake, he did everything he could to keep Social open.

Yeah, that really does bite. Is there a place here for public blaming and shaming?

What are you getting at Robin?

I don't think that was the least bit cryptic, Heather. What are YOU getting at?

I dunno, on first read (yesterday) it seemed a bit "cryptic" to me (or at a minimum something of a head scratching comment) I guess I took it as kinda-sorta-possibly-maybe you know something we don't but your not going to be the one that publicly opens Pandoras box but it's OK if someone else does. So I'm with Heather...What WERE you getting at.

[Robin Garr]

I dunno, on first read (yesterday) it seemed a bit "cryptic" to me (or at a minimum something of a head scratching comment) I guess I took it as kinda-sorta-possibly-maybe you know something we don't but your not going to be the one that publicly opens Pandoras box but it's OK if someone else does. So I'm with Heather...What WERE you getting at.

What it said: I know nothing, but if there is a bad guy here and the back-story is being quietly suppressed, let's get the facts out. Then we can decide what to do with them.

I am not GETTING at anything, your statement was unclear.
Please step away from the tar and feathers.

I don't know how much this clarifies the situation, but Insider Louisville reported some of the claims in court documents earlier this year when 732 Social filed for bankruptcy. Lots of charges and countercharges -- and even a dispute over whether the restaurant ever had a lease.

http://insiderlouisville.com/news/2011/06/02/732-social-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-making-public-a-nasty-private-saga/

I think some of us are taking a rather myopic view of what really happened...

NuLu (actually, the East Market District) was a lackadaisical development area before Holland brought the Green Building in.

The Green Building became the belle of the ball because of Social.

The area was revived in large part, due to the press from these efforts (we actually have renamed the place- NuLu)

Therefore, the success of NuLu should be greatly attributed to Social.

[Robin Garr]

Therefore, the success of NuLu should be greatly attributed to Social.

Totally agree. I'd just like to know if this was a natural death or an assisted suicide, and in the latter case, the factors that led to the decision ...

I smell drama rama but irregardless I loved 732 Social. I went there by myself after working at my food stand all day looking like a Carl Spackler impersonator, sat at the bar, and they fed me like a king. I had a blast. The cocktails were fantastic. (I asked them to make me something with bourbon.. and they nailed it.) I looked gross, they didn't care, and treated me well with jokes and great food. I will miss it.

Therefore, the success of NuLu should be greatly attributed to Social.

No doubt about it.

I don't know how much this clarifies the situation, but Insider Louisville reported some of the claims in court documents earlier this year when 732 Social filed for bankruptcy. Lots of charges and countercharges -- and even a dispute over whether the restaurant ever had a lease.

http://insiderlouisville.com/news/2011/06/02/732-social-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-making-public-a-nasty-private-saga/

That the owner of the restaurant would sign a lease and then not keep a copy of the document for his records boggles my mind. Regardless of whether he's in the wrong or right in this dispute, he's either massively incompetent at keeping proper business records or lying about having a lease.

I don't know how much this clarifies the situation, but Insider Louisville reported some of the claims in court documents earlier this year when 732 Social filed for bankruptcy. Lots of charges and countercharges -- and even a dispute over whether the restaurant ever had a lease.

http://insiderlouisville.com/news/2011/06/02/732-social-files-for-bankruptcy-protection-making-public-a-nasty-private-saga/

That the owner of the restaraunt would sign a lease and then not keep a copy of the document for his records boggles my mind. Regardless of whether he's in the wrong or right in this dispute, he's either massively incompetent at keeping proper business records or lying about having a lease.

Jeff, your assumption here points at the restaurant owner as being the incompetent one. What if the incompetence fell on the landlord? What if the landlord negotiated and agreed to a lease, 'forgot to sign it' and put it in his files, and then went on to accept rent payments for months until he wanted to move the tenant out unjustly? OMG-I know I've been accepting rent for months but I never signed this so it shouldn't be valid!

There will certainly be a lot of speculation around this matter, and I am sure sides will be taken. I have read those 400 pages of court docs and depositions and will tell you this was not a situation of a seasoned chef/restaurateur, with a professional track record of excellence and 9 successful restaurants, not keeping a copy of the lease.

If you hear the train whistle blowing, there may be a railroad nearby.......

What has happened to Chef Lewellyn and his restaurant is extremely unfortunate. I have probably had more dinners at social than anywhere else in the city. I am positive that chef Lewellyn will be back with a restaurant that is atleast as good as social; and I hope it will be here in Louisville. He is a chef that I respect greatly and though he is down, he is far from out.