The Louisville restaurant community is mourning the recent and unexpected loss of two respected individuals, <b>Pete Aarvig</b> at Baxter Station and <b>Michael Guerra</b> at Limestone. Please join me in extending condolences to their families, friends and co-workers. If you knew Pete Aarvig in particular, please note Andrew Hutto's request below that people who knew him reply with remembrances.
<b>From Andrew Hutto at Baxter Station</b>:
We at Baxter Station are reeling from the Tuesday loss of one of our long time bartenders, managers, co-workers, computer geek, general all-around nerd and good friend Pete Aarvig. Pete was a wonderful person. kind and caring. rarely had a bad dad and always replied to "Pete, how are you doing?" with "Woke up breathing and it's a beautiful day!"
His obit is in the C-J but the visitation and service is likely to be a mob scene, so i would like to ask well-wishers to send a note about Pete to me, and I can pass it on to his wife (Lisa) and 11 month old son (Ethan). Lisa has set up a college fund in Ethan's name at the Chase bank at Bardstown and Deerwood for any who may care to donate.
Baxter Station will be closed during lunch hours Friday, Dec. 21 so all employees may say their goodbyes. It will open at 4:30 p.m.
<b>From Jim Gerhardt at Limestone</b>:
Michael Guerra, legal counsel for Limestone and a principal and founder of Mike & Jimmy's restaurant in Northern Kentucky, was killed in a car accident earlier this year. He was a restaurateur who owned six restaurants, before which he had been corporate attorney for Louisville-based Chi-Chi's restaurants during its heyday.
Mr. Guerra was a fine man and good friend. His 14-year-old son was in the car with him but fortunately was not seriously hurt. They were on their way down to the lake ... he was to meet with his wife who was driving a few miles ahead and waiting at the exit en route to the lake. She had their two other kids in the car with her.
I do miss my friend, I do not know what is to become of Mike & Jimmy's Chophouse Grill. We are in the sorting out phase right now. We chose that name "Mike & Jimmy's," by the way, because the four main partners including myself included two Michaels and two Jims.
The message is not to take any day for granted. Hold that message close over the Christmas holidays, hug the ones dear to you and make sure you are at peace with your Maker.