Cafe Perusa Location

What does everyone think of the Cafe Perusa Location........

What in your opinion was its downfall?

[Robin Garr]

What does everyone think of the Cafe Perusa Location........

What in your opinion was its downfall?

I think Annemarie is pretty much on target. Wrong demographics for high-end ethnic food, and a high-rent commercial development also contributed to making the numbers fail to fall into place.

I think the general sense was out of sight out of mind. you just can't see the place driving by. I never went, but remember people being very fond of the food and atmosphere. The folks at the departed Small Times Bakery were making bread for them and mentioned the owner invested a fortune in the place. Maybe a combination of an owner over-extending himself and not enough traffic caused the downfall. I wouldn't consider it without being able to invest in some major signage. Just my .02
Kris

I guess they paid up their website in advance!

BTW, another major reason is that the second f in the name really turned people off.

It turned people off? I'm not following the logic.

If I'm not wrong, the Perusa was owned by the Pantoras(spelling?) Family, who owned the orginal Equus, and all of the buildings where Havana Rumba is, and the adjoining building across from the Trinity Practice field and half of Saint Mathews condo, apartment buildings, they also owned the old comedy club where Za's is now and many other places around town. I don't think money was or is an issue, just that they have always wanted a jewel of a fine dining place in louisville and never quite made it.

Bill Smith
Shady Lane

No logic, I was making a funny . . . guess it didn't work.

I understand it now, took me...oh...15 minutes. It's Monday.

I was only there a couple of times, but thought it was a beautiful property. It isn't a hard location to get to, but you have to know it's there. Maybe better signage out front would have helped. And it doesn't seem they were open very long? Not much time for word of mouth, but I could be wrong on that.

ok, so it looks like my thoughts on money were way off, but that brings me to another question: Why the short lifespan of this place. I don't remember how long it was open, but as Bonnie said, it wasn't there long. I general it would seem that if someone was willing to make such an investment, and the had plenty of cash, they would give it a little bit more time to develop. If I remember correctly the general impression on here was positive and I seem to remember a glowing review in the CJ. I am reminded of when someone was spreading garbage about Chef Dean and Corbett's being in trouble. Chef Dean got on and asked if the person really thought that he would finally open his dream place and give up on it so quickly? Chef Dean obviously counted the cost of what he was doing and was in for the long haul. I guess my question is what causes places, even well funded ones, go away so quickly? Thanks for any insights!
Kris

I was only there a couple of times, but thought it was a beautiful property. It isn't a hard location to get to, but you have to know it's there. Maybe better signage out front would have helped. And it doesn't seem they were open very long? Not much time for word of mouth, but I could be wrong on that.

Exactly.
They had some very nice reviews and had just started to generate some good "word of mouth" advertising. Rather than capitalizing on that with additional advertising they relied on WOM then closed before it could really generate the kind of business they wanted.
Word of mouth is GREAT (maybe the best) advertising but it takes a very long time to generate business. If you're going to rely on WOM be prepared to have a couple of slow years.

Marty Rosen had some negative things to say.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4018&p=38690&hilit=+Cafe+Perusa#p38690

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbc ... 60408/1044

I myself thought that Cafe Perusa was pretty darn good. Of course I'm a little biased because I knew a lot of the staff and I could literaly throw a rock and hit the place from my yard. I would love to see another restaurant go into that space. I think that they were more the victim of the economy going to hell in a hand basket about two months after they opened; more so than an unfavorable review or anything else. They did have busy nights, but not enough of them. It also was a little hard to find the place if you're not familiar with the area.
The biggest recommendation I have to any one considering the location, would be to have better signage off of Taylorsville Rd.

I agree, Dan., Working in J-town, the only times I noticed Caffe Persusa without thinking about it was when then had rented a sign pointing into the shopping center. Other than this, it's VERY difficult to see it from the road; mostly you're looking at nail salons and a barber shop. Even Maggies, clearly seen from Taylorsville Rd, has had difficultly retaining business; especially in this economy. Perusa was not fortunate enough to be in a higher end traffic area for shopping like some other places; Coko Loco perhaps being one.