Park Place and Browning's Closing Tonight

This is incredibly disappointing. A major hit to the dining and beer scene for downtown and Louisville as a whole.

Searched for the investors. A story a few years ago lists the following:

Hanhurst LLC's other investors (Sam Rechtor) include Will Hancock, Neil Wellinghurst, Mary Morrow, John Yarmuth and Gene Crawford.

East Main is getting hammered.

[Robin Garr]

I'll call Jay and see if he wouldn't mind posting something here to shed some light on the news. And as I agree, the economy is really going to expose a lot of our favorite places, we should keep the faith. It will get better. Yes, our lives are going to change from the state of our union. But try to look at as a time to reorganize and reinvent. The strong independents in this city will introduce new concepts, and we will fall in love with them as we always do. And in that, hopefully Jay will finally get out on his own. The best thing we can do, is to keep it local. And keep supporting the people who give Louisville it's identity.

Good points, Jayson ... and I think it's clear to everyone that Jay and his kitchen staff don't have to take the blame for this sad demise. I'd sure be curious to know who the anonymous investors are, though. Anyone got the inside on that?

I'll call Jay and see if he wouldn't mind posting something here to shed some light on the news. And as I agree, the economy is really going to expose a lot of our favorite places, we should keep the faith. It will get better. Yes, our lives are going to change from the state of our union. But try to look at as a time to reorganize and reinvent. The strong independents in this city will introduce new concepts, and we will fall in love with them as we always do. And in that, hopefully Jay will finally get out on his own. The best thing we can do, is to keep it local. And keep supporting the people who give Louisville it's identity.

Amen to that - support the locals, especially now. This seems to be speculative move by the investors, and they were quick to pull out, IMO. We need to support the local establishments as much as we can at this point, to keep this from happening. We went to Maido last night, and thankfully, they seemed to be pretty busy, but it's been a while, so I don't really have a point of reference. I just want to do what I can to give my dollars to these wonderful restaurants who have brought us so much, and really want to see them survive this difficult time.

[Robin Garr]

... We went to Maido last night, and thankfully, they seemed to be pretty busy, but it's been a while, so I don't really have a point of reference. I just want to do what I can to give my dollars to these wonderful restaurants who have brought us so much, and really want to see them survive this difficult time.

Well said, Kim! If there is any single mantra that ought to be pervading this forum now, it is "support your local independents." And frankly, at the risk of resurrecting the usual controversies, I would say support your locals in active preference to the chains, not to be snarky but for the simple reason that the locals don't have national corporations backing them up.

Porcini last night was rockin', by the way, jammed by 7 p.m., and the food was GREAT! My neighborhood Italian place has kicked it up a notch lately, and I realize I need to get in there more often.

... We went to Maido last night, and thankfully, they seemed to be pretty busy, but it's been a while, so I don't really have a point of reference. I just want to do what I can to give my dollars to these wonderful restaurants who have brought us so much, and really want to see them survive this difficult time.

Well said, Kim! If there is any single mantra that ought to be pervading this forum now, it is "support your local independents." And frankly, at the risk of resurrecting the usual controversies, I would say support your locals in active preference to the chains, not to be snarky but for the simple reason that the locals don't have national corporations backing them up.

Porcini last night was rockin', by the way, jammed by 7 p.m., and the food was GREAT! My neighborhood Italian place has kicked it up a notch lately, and I realize I need to get in there more often.

Thanks, Robin, but know that I wholeheartedly believe it. My Dad once said to me after eating many of my meals - "You could open your own restaurant! But DON'T!!!!" LOL But he knew that the restaurants are the first to take a hit when the economy slides. The economy isn't sliding right now, it's caving in. I like to cook at home, most nights, and although I still do, we're making a point to eat out more when we can. (we don't have kids, so this is easier for us). I'm just advocating that people support local as much as possible right now, even grocery stores if you can.

I worked at Park Place and Brownings from the first day of operations until the end of May, 2008. Over six years with the business I may have some insight.

First let me wish those who lost their job unexpectantly(not upper management since I'm sure they knew of this several days in advance) but those with families and small children. To Sarah the Pastry Chef, Edis who was the man, and Lissa the best bartender from Brownings the city has ever known. Ask her regulars, she rocked! You three especially deserved better.

After reading some posts about the investors I feel obligated to chime in.

Sam Rechtor was nothing but an unbelivabe owner. He was and is kind, personal, generous. From day 1 he has never come close to making a single penny with these 2 restaraunts. All common sense said to shut down years ago but he loved those who worked for him and felt a sense of obligation to give them a home and a place to earn a living. Any other person would have cut their losses years ago. So from first hand knowledge, Sam Rechtor did more than he was asked to do. You can only lose so much money before enough is enough. To Sam, thanks for the opportunities you afforded me.

Also there may have been(were) internal issues that drove the business down. I am not and I repeat not badmouthing the management, Chef, or the team working. They all tried very hard and had their hearts in the right places but I can say as someone who spent more time in those 2 businesses than any other person who worked there that maybe there were other factors in play.

Oy. This is really heartbreaking. Gary keeps rattling off lists of major corporations he believes will be biting the dust within the year, and we're sort of holding our collective breath together wondering which Louisville restaurant will fold next. Scary times.

i bow my head and raise my glass to another of Louisville's finest

sad news

good luck to those who are now looking for work

We stopped at the Tap Room last Friday after St. James (took dinner from Hill Street Fishery-good). Very few people in there. Few people doing the trolley hop, but because of St. James and St. X/Trinity game -not so busy. Drove down to the west end of Main to walk alittle bit. Very busy. Alot of people dining at Bristol, Proof. Unless baseball is going on, people forgot about the two restaurants. I tried to get people from work to go there for lunch (free, easy parking unless a game) but they always go to Jeff.
There are still way too many people who won't go downtown. Very few of our friends go downtown. We'll park on 3rd and walk to BBC 4th Street. Great outdoor area. Love Mellilos. Will stop in at the Bristol. Even splurged and spent the nite at 21C for Thunder last year.
Sad day.
We do know someone who works at the now closed Rocky but he told us at the BBC Friday nite, that he has a job with Buckheads. I hope that happens.
Scary times.

I am crushed. I am gonna miss my regular lunch stop. Thanks Brian, Cathy, Lisa, Frank, Jay, Rush. You guys are all greats. You will be missed. East Main is devastated.

Sincerely

The riff raff from next door.

It's one bizarre press release, that's for sure.

Brian was making some of the best beer in Louisville, period. It's seismic, and very much feels like a death in the family.

Does anyone have a reading about what stands to happen next with the space? I'd ask the ownership, but unlike the other local breweries, I've never been introduced to the owners.

No matter who is our next Prez, the economy will get worse. Unfortunatley that would indicate more local failures. The GREED and AVARICE in this country has finally caught us by the crocth. I hope we can all find our way back to a simpler time.

What? Making a decision based on what might happen in the future.

Not everyone is able to take the UofL approach which eliminates most of the financial risk by guaranteeing profit up front. Sorry, it was too easy.

On a serious note, the restaurant business is one of the biggest financial gambles investors can make. I wouldn't expect all investors to be interested in wading into what sure appears to be murky water. Why not just cut your losses and invest elsewhere (or save for a less rainy day)?

Matthew I was commenting on how strange the announcement sounded. Robin Garr said ""it's not exactly the way I would have put together an announcement like that."
Roger Baylor said "It's one bizarre press release, that's for sure."

To say that "we have seen a steady increase in business. Or "we feel the current state of our national economy will prove to prohibit the sustainability of our success." To say "will prove" reads in the future, so give up now?

Look don't get me wrong, it's a terrible thing to have happen. I wish the best for everybody. Just say it's not working out, it's an east main street problem, or rising costs.

I am pretty familiar with the risks of the restaurant business thank you. I don't think these investors were "wading into what appears to be murkey water." They were already in the water.

Sorry, it was too easy