Former Azalea, Doll's, still vacant and looking shabby

[Robin Garr]

I just realized that it's been five years since Varanese opened as John Varanese's new home after Azalea closed, and Doll's Market has been closed for a year this month. There was some uproar at one point about a CVS or Walgreen's coming in, and some drama over whether the historic Azalea/Bauer's building would be torn down.

I haven't heard a peep about the properties for a while, though, and noticed the other day that Azalea's white building is starting to look a little dilapidated. I'm sure the neighbors in Indian Hills really appreciate that ...

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had heard anything about the status of those properties. It was such a great restaurant venue for so long, it seems someone ought to be interested in it.

Looks like Doll's has a new tenant and the former Azalea location has a lot of suitors. Can't divulge all of the details right now, but I have a real inside scoop on the new businesses going in there.

These two spots really need to be inhabited by good, local businesses. Azalea's particularly. Dolls has kind of a "bunker" motif that is hard to make gorgeous, but I'd still rather have a good locally owned ethnic grocery or something in there than another neon-mart.

I hate to see the Azalea space go so ragged.

I worked at Azalea for a few years, up until and including the last night we were open for business. I was very sad to see it go, and do hope that someone will go in there soon. I was excited when 211 was talking about it a few years ago, I wonder what happened there. That was arguably, and still could be, the best patio in town.

I would clarify one point in your post though Robin. John Varanese openeing that restaurant had little to do with Azalea closing. I know John was chef there, but had been gone for years before we closed Azalea. I actually never worked with him, and was there for I think 2 1/2 years before we closed. I am not sure where he was working before he opened his own place.

[Robin Garr]

I worked at Azalea for a few years, up until and including the last night we were open for business. I was very sad to see it go, and do hope that someone will go in there soon. I was excited when 211 was talking about it a few years ago, I wonder what happened there. That was arguably, and still could be, the best patio in town.

I would clarify one point in your post though Robin. John Varanese openeing that restaurant had little to do with Azalea closing. I know John was chef there, but had been gone for years before we closed Azalea. I actually never worked with him, and was there for I think 2 1/2 years before we closed. I am not sure where he was working before he opened his own place.

Thanks, Ned. I hear you, but in a lot of ways it has always seemed to me that John brought a lot of the feel of Azalea (if not the patio) to inform what he did with Varanese. I think it draws some of the same crowd (although so does Napa River Grill), and the overall style of the menu and the wine list seem to me to be in the same genre, and I can't really help thinking of Varanese as "Son of Azalea" even if John didn't just jump across the East End overnight.

At some point before John opened Varanese, he was the chef the Cardinal Club (a golf community out toward Shelbyville). We were asked out there for dinner by friends. That had to be after Azalea closed. Can't remember the exact time frame but probably had to be within the last 5 years,

[Robin Garr]

At some point before John opened Varanese, he was the chef the Cardinal Club (a golf community out toward Shelbyville). We were asked out there for dinner by friends. That had to be after Azalea closed. Can't remember the exact time frame but probably had to be within the last 5 years,

That's right, Carol! I never had occasion to go to the Cardinal Club, but I remember that distinctly now from Varanese's opening.

I still say Varanese is Son of Azalea, though. And the timing of its opening was just right to accommodate the Azalea refugees.

I just realized that it's been five years since Varanese opened as John Varanese's new home after Azalea closed, and Doll's Market has been closed for a year this month.

Sign in front of Doll's says "Sale Pending". Has it been like that for a while?