Quick question

If anybody would know, it would be someone on these boards.
Does anybody remember a restaurant called "The Chapel" that used to be in the old Bakery Square area? (This would have been 25 years ago.) If so, are the once owners of that restaurant still in the Louisville area in the restaurant biz? I was thinking their name was De Latorres but I could be way off on that.

http://www.delatorres.com/

I have no idea if it is the same family, but the name is the same.

I remember The Cloister, but it wasn't in Bakery Square was it? And the old Afro-German Tea Room. :sigh:

OK that wasn't at all helpful, but a nice trip down memory lane.

I worked in a restaurant in Bakery Square in my last life and don't recall that name. I remember eating at The Cloister which opened after I moved to NY but I remember it being in an old Ursuline convent or something like that.

No, this was definitely The Chapel. I remember the Cloister as well but this was over in Bakery Sq. We contacted them to have a wedding and reception there and circumstances, as they so often do, went haywire. Who ever had the restaurant at the time went way beyond the call of duty to help with my reception. Now that I am in a better financial situation, I would like to funnel my dining dollars back to them. A bit late but still....

Carla, I was the assistant manager there many, many years ago and part of the opening team. I have to give this some thought but there were 4 owners. 2 doctors, Dr. Arena , Dr. Ben something can't remeber his last name. He was one of the cool ones I remember. 1 dentist , Dr.Peterson and a camera clinic owner Schumann. He also owned the cloister. It was a very cool restaurant back in the late 70's early 80's. Man I'm old. I can remember having an opening chef from the Abby in Atlanta that was the wildest chef I have ever met. He was from France and HATED being in Louisville , Kentucky training. He was part of the deal with the Abby to help train the staff. If I recall the other doctors last name I will post it.

Thanks Al. Any info on why the restaurant closed? It happened at the same time of my wedding. Aug in '84

This doesn't really help, but does show a history of Bakery Square. I thought is was neat. I'll dig deeper to see what I can discover for you.

http://www.bakerysquare.com/index.cgi?id=6

Okay - I might be nuts, but wasn't the restaurant at The Cloister spanish and it had moved from the east end? Maybe Restaurant Raposo? Or am I merging two together. I do remember going to both the east end Spanish place and the Cloister. I never went to the Afro-German Tea Room but think about it everytime I pass St. Martin's (right?) downtown. I don't remember an upscale restaurant in Bakery Square - more lunch places and boutiques.

The original restaurant at Bakery Square was the Stables. It was followed by a place run by a Dutch pastry chef who kept a large sandwich board out in front with his picture and winning metals. The Dutch chef (? Vin, Vim) moved and opened opposite the Mid City Mall in a house.

Carla, I hate to say this but it is the truth. It closed because people stop coming there because of the crime. I remember every weekend night calling the police because of people breaking into their car. We had a security guard in each lot and they were fenced in parking lots. I remember that the wheels were stolen off a jaguar and I had to take the customers home. I also had someone steal my stereo out of my mgb right outside the kitchen door in the day light. They did not re-open to the best of my knowledge. It was pretty cool to see the staff in monk ropes doing table side dishes. Reid was the last name of the other doctor that was a partner.

I was the chef of the Chapel from Dec '78 to Aug "80. The principal owner was Ray Schuhmann of Photography, Inc. He was the visionary, responsible for The Cloister. The Chapel Restaurant was housed in the former chapel part of the enclosure with eclectic shops taking up residence throughout the main building. The Cloister was on Chestnut St. at the Shelby St. intersection. Bakery Square was just down from the double spired St. Joseph's Church. The Butchertown Pub was right around the corner. It (Bakery Square) was on Washington St. The Afro-German Tearoom was located at St. Martin of Tours complex on Shelby St. It was a stone's throw from the kitchen entrance of The Chapel. The concept of The Chapel was based on an Atlanta restaurant called The Abbey. When The Chapel opened, two german chefs came up from Atlanta to assist in our opening, Chef Hans and Chef Dieter. There were other owners that had small shares, but I do not remember their last name, just that he was Dr. Paul, last name beginning with the letter "A". Try contacting Photography, Inc. to find out more info on owners.

Carla, I think only one of the original owners is still living and, if it is who I think it is, I know him. Do you want me to talk to him about your inquiry, whatever it is?

That's very thoughtful Jeffery but not necessary. I was hoping they might still be in the biz and I could swing by. But should you find yourself in conversation with him you can say that their catering for my wedding was over and above all of our expectations. I hate for good works to go unacknowledged and I'm afraid that in my youthful self-centeredness I never fully thanked them for functioning under difficult circumstances.

Will do, Carla. Glad to help.