Did Mussel & Burger Bar change hands?

[Robin Garr]

Amid a discussion about Fernando's restaurants, someone mentioned that he/Olé Group don't own Mussel & Burger Bar any more. Sure enough, the Olé website no longer includes it, and MMB's website doesn't say a thing about the owners. Have any of you heard or seen anything about this?

https://www.ole-restaurants.com/

https://www.mussel-burger-bar.com/

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25475&p=187339&hilit=mussel#p187339

[Robin Garr]

Dang! I forgot all about that, and more confusing, I didn't find it when I searched the forum for "mussel." Go figure. Also that thread mentioned that it was sold but not who the buyer is, unless I missed that, too. Maybe a silent owner?

Dang! I forgot all about that, and more confusing, I didn't find it when I searched the forum for "mussel." Go figure. Also that thread mentioned that it was sold but not who the buyer is, unless I missed that, too. Maybe a silent owner?

Biz First reported in 2018 that Ole was bringing on an investor for MBB, Bluegrass Capital, and may have sold the downtown location to them altogether at that point. I've been assuming they eventually took over the whole operation.

https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/ ... n-new.html

Olé Restaurant Group, parent of Mussel & Burger Bar, Taco Luchador, Guaca Mole and other Louisville restaurants, has a new investor — though it's keeping the details under wraps for now.

On Friday, the company announced that Louisville-based investment firm Bluegrass Capital was providing capital to the business.

“Olé Restaurant Group continues to expand to bring more chef-driven restaurants to our loyal customers," the statement said. "In order to be well positioned for future growth, the company partnered with Bluegrass Capital and is in the process of expanding operational infrastructure.”

The company didn't elaborate on the future growth plans and also declined to answer any questions about the make up of the ownership group following this deal. Last time we checked in, the group consisted of investors Rick Moir, chef Fernando Martinez, his wife Cristina Martinez, and cousin and chef Yaniel Martinez.

Bluegrass Capital is an umbrella company that operates a number of different businesses, including an investment fund, asset managers and wealth advisers. I spoke briefly with co-founder Kevin Attkisson today, though he declined to be interviewed on the record.

There's no word on how big of a shareholder Bluegrass Capital will be, but Olé appears to be transferring ownership of one of its locations to this group. A legal advertisement for an alcoholic beverage license last week indicated that the ownership of Mussel & Burger Bar's downtown location, near Seventh and Main Street, is being transferred to KYMBB LLC, whose officers include Attkisson and others from Bluegrass Capital.

Olé declined to comment on the significance of this or say whether we'll see other locations change hands in the future.

[Robin Garr]

I'm sure there is absolutely nothing sketchy about this.

FWIW, we went to the downtown location right before Covid and it was an excellent experience. Great food, atmosphere, service. I hope whoever was running it in March is still running it when Covid is over... I was ready to make them my go-to for lunch after visiting KMAC/21C Museums.