Funmi's African is coming back in new quarters!

[Robin Garr]

If you enjoyed Funmi’s Nigerian restaurant on Bardstown Road as much as I did, and were as sorry as I was to see it go, you’ll be delighted to hear that Funmi’s is coming back in a new Outer Highlands location later this month.

I had the good fortune to run into Funmi Aderinokun and her charming family this morning - they came over to volunteer to help out at St. Matthew’s Episcopal’s monthly Dare To Care Food Pantry - and she was bubbling over about their plans to open Funmi’s African restaurant in the Gardiner Lane Shopping Center on Monday, Aug. 27.

Funmi’s will be located at 3028 Bardstown Road, in the plaza between Rocky’s and Buckheads; open Monday through Saturday for lunch (11 a.m.-2 p.m.) and dinner (5-9 p.m.)

In larger quarters than her old place on Bardstown near Highland, with a totally new kitchen and seating for 49, she plans to expand the bill of fair to incorporate a variety of African cuisines; in addition to Nigerian she’ll offer dishes representing Tunisia, Senegal, Mozambique and more.

I’m really looking forward to this and hope to get out there ASAP when the “Now Frying” sign goes up.

[Robin Garr]

A couple of interesting inside peeks into the hard side of the restaurant biz:

* Funmi told me she had to close the old place, even though business was good, after the landlord decided to raise the monthly lease payment from $2,500 to $3,000 a month. Even with a loyal following, you can't really make the numbers work with a small space and affordable menu when that much money is going out for rent.

* Ever heard of Catch-22? At the new place, the city inspectors will not allow her to exceed 49 seats because of floor space and parking. But the ABC people won't let her apply for a wine license with fer then 50. Neither will budge. So for the lack of one seat, they'll be selling beer (when the license goes through) but no wine.

As Dickens wrote, "The law is an ass ... an idiot."

That is regretable...

To pair wines with Nigerian food would be so much fun.

Ack. Is there any way to squeeze out any more floor space? 'Cause she could go for a variance on the parking. That's an Appeal of an Administrative Ruling to BOZA.

[Robin Garr]

Ack. Is there any way to squeeze out any more floor space? 'Cause she could go for a variance on the parking. That's an Appeal of an Administrative Ruling to BOZA.

I'll pass that along. If you have the time, Leah, could you spell out the details, where to go to file it, etc.?

(Added: I'm afraid it's floor space, though. She indicated that there was just no way the city would let her put even one more chair in.)

Why must you seat at least 50 to apply for a wine license? I can think of a restaurant or two that seat under 50 and serve wine.

[Robin Garr]

Why must you seat at least 50 to apply for a wine license? I can think of a restaurant or two that seat under 50 and serve wine.

Hmm. Because that's what she told me. Thinking about it, though, that's a good question. Blue Dog?

Why must you seat at least 50 to apply for a wine license? I can think of a restaurant or two that seat under 50 and serve wine.

Hmm. Because that's what she told me. Thinking about it, though, that's a good question. Blue Dog?

That and Zaytun come to mind immediately.

[Robin Garr]

Blue Dog?

That and Zaytun come to mind immediately.

Boombozz at Frankfort/Cannons? Hmm.

Here's the governing statute: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/krs/243-00/032.PDF

Looks like the 50 seat minimum is the law. Weird. Perhaps the other places we're discussing have a technical "seating capactiy" of more than 50 even though they seat less than 50? Or there is some sort of waiver process or something?

[Robin Garr]

Here's the governing statute: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/krs/243-00/032.PDF

Looks like the 50 seat minimum is the law. Weird. Perhaps the other places we're discussing have a technical "seating capactiy" of more than 50 even though they seat less than 50? Or there is some sort of waiver process or something?

Beats me. Leah knows a lot about zoning variations, having served on the county Board of Zoning Adjustment. Maybe she can jump in.

[Robin Garr]

Here's the governing statute: http://www.lrc.ky.gov/krs/243-00/032.PDF

Interesting that it specifies seating "at tables." too, which apparently excludes bar seating from the count.

The zoning would come into play on the parking spaces needed. ABC has their own rules about what type of liquor license goes with how many seats, and whether or not you have to serve food, distances between establishments, etc. I will say that there are a gazillion variations of liquor/beer/wine licenses, so maybe she's just not asking for the right one.

Liquor licenses are appealed to BOZA, as they are the only appeals process before you can go to Circuit Court. In my 6 years on BOZA, we heard 2 or 3 liquor appeals and I can say the rules were confusing, even with the experts in the courtroom.

Yes, I always found that "at tables" rule . . . interesting . . .as its for a liquor license.

[Robin Garr]

ABC has their own rules ...

Are ABC rules handled locally by IP&L? Seems to me that they used to be, back in the Jurassic ... or the Sloane administration, anyway.