Seviche Goose creek closing!

Anthony and staff,

I can vouch that you did put all of you into the restaurant. I have great memories there as I spent my birthday this past February and my family who was visiting from Italy still talk about the wonderful food and atmosphere. We will miss Seviche, but always know we will be there to support you and your family.

Best,
Tony

Anthony, Gary, et al......

Many thanks for the wonderful meals at the Goose Creek location.........

This economy is hitting us all hard. Althought I'm very sorry to see you go from Goose Creek, I will definatly be by Bardstown Road to see you all there!

My best wishes.

Bill Veneman

Just out of curiosity, I understand the economy is a big problem, but do you feel that the difference in suburban and urban demographics was a factor? Seviche has such an urban vibe, it seems just right in the Highlands ... but I never quite saw it as quite the same fit in a former Hungry Pelican ... and often wondered about how many of your new neighbors I heard speaking of it as "A Mexican restaurant."

I'd be interested to hear more about this claim.

Having grown up in Louisville, I have come to see it as an aggregate of small neighborhoods. Many, many of these neighborhoods are what I would consider to be "suburban." In fact, I very much believe there is a certain "suburban" element to Louisville's identity. Yet, we continue to have and grow one of the best "independent" restaurant identities for any "mid-major" city in the country. I do agree that many of these places have "an urban vibe." I'm just not sold on the idea that only (and this is my term) "urban dwellers" eat at those places with "urban vibes." Thus, I'd expect an extension of such an "urban vibe" establishment into "suburban" Louisville would be welcomed by certain segments of the demographic. I'm not exactly sure who these people would be (urbanites who have moved families to the 'burbs?). Or, are these people skipping the local place to make dining out an "urban" experience?

Something is not adding up here, and I'm not really sure what it is.

In all frankness, the Goose Creek location has played a role in this. Put this same restaurant in the heart of Prospect on US 42 or near a major shopping area and I'd guess the traffic would have been much higher. Goose Creek Road is not that heavily travelled and several places have not had success all along that area. Out of site--out of mind.

Napa River Grill moves into Westport Villiage and you can't get in the place. Go figure. The fact of the matter is that a large proportion of "suburbanites" travel to Bardstown Road, Frankfort Avenue, Market Street, to eat out. They'll eat in the "burbs" but they gotta see you when they drive by.

Location, location, location.

[Robin Garr]

Something is not adding up here, and I'm not really sure what it is.

Matthew, I would guess that I'm generalizing while you are looking at specific exceptions. Bardstown Road and Frankfort Avenue are urban upscale, tree-hugging, granola-munching and very, very "blue". Check the voting maps after the elections and you will see *exactly* what I mean.

These neighborhoods have a critical mass of adventurous foodies who will support creative, unusual and even expensive local restaurants. Of course plenty of Velveeta-eating conservatives also live in the city neighborhoods, just as there are plenty of tree-huggers in the burbs.

But the critical mass of support for "Louisville Original" and their kin is in the eastern urban neighborhoods, and so are almost all of the restaurants that they love. The suburbs are mostly chains because the demographic - taken as a whole - desires chains. The folks who love to come in to the city for interesting dining is not a trivial number, but $3/gallon gasoline has cut into that group's travel budget - and into the budget of city dwellers who used to come out to Goose Creek to go to the "other" Seviche.

My opinion strictly, and not based on rigorous research, but I'm pretty comfortable with it. (Mark H's point is good, too ... Seviche might have made it in Westport Village, or in Prospect. Maybe.)

so, so sorry to hear this.
as has been said over and again in this thread and many others, anthony, his vision, and his staff are treasures in and blessings to our dining scene.
i dined once at the goose creek location. it was valentine's day of this year. i had the luxury of sharing in a phenomenal 4-course lunch and 1/2 half bottle of wine. if i were to write a script of how a perfect dining experience should go, it wouldnt be as good as the one had that afternoon.
but i fear not. good luck comes from trying, and not many folks try harder and/or succeed more consistantly than the guys at seviche.
it sucks, but one has to break some eggs to make an omelette.

with all due respect and gratitude to anthony and his organization...
'buen provecho y muchas gracias!'

If it's just an urban suburban/urban thing...how does one explain the success of Mojitos, Havana Rumba, et. al ? This is a specific instance of a very fine upscale restaurant in a relatively non-upscale location in a faltering economy. The critical mass isn't "blue people" (has anyone studied politics as it relates to one's dining habits?), it's just people of any stripe. Goose Creek Road is an access street to a few subdivisions and a shortcut from Westport Road to US 22, this is not a high volume street with lot's of visability.

The East End is not one big homogenious subdivsion, it's mostly a conglomeration of former small cities engulfed in urban sprawl. My wife and I were very surprised (but very pleased) when Seviche opened; unfortunately, that area has a rather unstable history in terms of any class of restaurant. What I'm saying is they picked the wrong street in the wrong neighborhood. Not all that different from Robin's comments, but this "ain't" New York, LA, or San Francisco so nothing in this town is all that urban.

[Robin Garr]

this "ain't" New York, LA, or San Francisco so nothing in this town is all that urban.

True, Mark. But Crescent Hill/Clifton, the Highlands neighborhoods, Germantown and Old Louisville and the older part of St. Matthews, even are VERY different from anyplace outside the Watterson. Maybe it's partly a chicken-and-egg thing, but the prevalence - and huge popularity - of major chains outside the Watterson means something. Remember the lines when PF Chang's and (yes, it's barely inside the Watterson) Cheesecake Factory opened?

Again, day after the election, the CJ will likely publish maps with color-coded keys to the election results. Examine them. They may measure politics, but they'll also tell us something about demographics.

Again, day after the election, the CJ will likely publish maps with color-coded keys to the election results. Examine them. They may measure politics, but they'll also tell us something about demographics.

True, you guys in the urban area keep voting for the wrong people! You guys vote like you live in California or NYC.

[Robin Garr]

Again, day after the election, the CJ will likely publish maps with color-coded keys to the election results. Examine them. They may measure politics, but they'll also tell us something about demographics.

True, you guys in the urban area keep voting for the wrong people! You guys vote like you live in California or NYC.

It's true! And we're proud of it! Call us the People's Republic of Crescent Hill.

(Betcha the Dems carry Jefferson County, though, and Yarmuth thumps Northup. Not trying to start a political fight, just looking for a little wagering action here ... )

It would be interesting to hear from some the restaurant owners from the urban "restaurant rows" on the typical demographics of their clientele. I suspect that even after the opening of a few "upscale" chains and a number of indi's opening locations in the burbs, there are still scores of residents living in Indian Hills, Glenview, Prospect, Hurstbourne, Anchorage and the like that prefer to make the trek into the urban hoods to enjoy the vibe of its many unique and ethnic restaurants. I think it makes them feel more big city in a way and I suspect they spend a lot of $$ on food and wine at these places.

So which group adds more to the success of the local restaurants? Probably both. Sounds like an interesting research project.

I'm one of those that lives in the burbs and for some reason it just doesn't feel right going to the Indi's that aren't located in an urban setting. We went to Serviche on Goose Creek and while the food was excellent it just didn't feel right. Actually Mojitos doesn't fill right either but it's the only choice for that kind of dining we have. There's several others we go to dinner in urban setting but only because we enjoy the food. Somehow places with limited parking and older buildings close together just give a better feel to a place. I can't really explain why but it just seems that way, maybe it's because it gives them a bigger differentiation from chains?

(Betcha the Dems carry Jefferson County, though, and Yarmuth thumps Northup. Not trying to start a political fight, just looking for a little wagering action here ... )

I might consider it if you also include the McConnell - Lundsford race!

[Robin Garr]

I might consider it if you also include the McConnell - Lundsford race!

That would be fair.

I think that one is going to be breathtakingly close, but I believe Lunsford has a shot.

Somehow places with limited parking and older buildings close together just give a better feel to a place. I can't really explain why but it just seems that way, maybe it's because it gives them a bigger differentiation from chains?

Set and setting...........