Amerigo

Received a phone call from a good friend this morning who is one of the managers there, unfortunately they are closing down. Do not know if it is all their stores or just this one ?

Ironically several years ago when it was Harpers, the G.M. and I who are also good friends told me the same.

Is it location ?

Unfortunatly, I've never been impressed with Amerigo. Too many Italian places in a short distance. The brunch is/was acceptable, but not memorable.

My one experience was not that good. Sad to see anyone close but Amerigo just didn't deliver IMO.

Looks like the parent company has been having some problems with its financing. http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/apr/2 ... d-dispute/

I have always enjoyed the food and the service there, and they seemed to have a decent following. Also, they featured local/regional craft beer on tap including BBC, Kentucky Ale, and Schlafly.

Sad to see them go.

I'm sad to see this place close. Though, like others, don't see it as a big suprise because of the economy. That entire strip mall is starting to close down; Barnes and Noble + Graeters are two of the only stores still left. I agree it was a tough location for Italian; too many decent places within a half-mile distance.

Still, sad to see them close.

Harper's did quite good at that location for a long time. They were somewhat unique and thus were able to draw people. Amerigo was just another Italian American restaurant. It was nothing special in anyway. The couple of times we were there we were totally unimpressed, actually I'm surprised it stayed open as long as it did. Maybe we can get Harper's back? One can only hope.

We ate there a couple of times and enjoyed it quite a bit. We're just not in that area of town all that often.

[Robin Garr]

Actually, to its credit, Amerigo management sent out a news release, exclusive to LouisvilleHotBytes.com, letting us know about this and expressing their regret at leaving the Louisville community. Give them credit - that shows more class than closing the doors and quietly sneaking away ...

Amerigo Restaurant in Louisville Ceases Operations

NASHVILLE – June 15, 2009 – Vivid Restaurant Concepts, LLC announced today that it has ceased operations at its financially troubled Louisville location at 871 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy. The original Amerigo restaurants in Ridgeland, Mississippi; Nashville, Brentwood, and Memphis, Tennessee are financially sound and will continue to operate. Louisville General Manager Brandie Gartman, a seven-year Amerigo veteran, will remain with the restaurant group, transferring to the Jackson, Mississippi Amerigo location. Ms. Gartman was a finalist for manager of the year in the 2009 Kentucky Restaurant Associations awards.
“We are sad that we couldn’t reach a mutually beneficial agreement with our landlord. The restaurant had 40 wonderful employees in Louisville and we wanted to keep the restaurant open for them, but a deal could not be reached, “said Paul Schramkowski, co-owner of JHS Holdings, a bidder for the restaurant presently in receivership.

In January of 2009 Vivid Restaurant Concepts entered into receivership because of an inability to meet financial obligations to General Electric Capital Corporation. A group of long tenured management, including 20-year veteran Doug Hogrefe, senior operator of the Amerigo Restaurants in Nashville and Brentwood; Paul Schramkowski, executive chef of all Amerigo Restaurants and Char Restaurant, a steakhouse in Mississippi also owned by Vivid Concepts; and David Joseph, 20-year veteran and senior operator of the Mississippi Amerigo and Char Restaurant, formed JHS Holdings to acquire the original five financially sound restaurants still in receivership. Pending the results of the June 29, 2009 Federal Court hearing, the sale will be final by June 30, 2009.

“We originally intended to include Louisville in our buyout offer for Amerigo and Char,” continued Schramkowski. “But since we couldn’t reach mutually beneficial terms, we had no other choice to protect the other original restaurants and the nearly 350 employees in them. This final restaurant closure places the company back on firm financial footing and we are excited to be able to continue our focus on excellence in food and service within those restaurants. We are happy to retain the management talent that Brandie Gartman brings us, but we are very sad to leave the great city of Louisville. We hope to find a way to re-enter this market someday.”

Unfortunatly, I've never been impressed with Amerigo. Too many Italian places in a short distance. The brunch is/was acceptable, but not memorable.

'trail of tears' imo

That location and that wood fired oven deserve something cool! I hope someone creative with a love for bourbon and craft beer does something with it!

Regarding that location:

It would take a very, very well-reviewed place for me to consider battling Hurstbourne traffic to try it out. In my earlier years I twice held jobs that required traveling most of Hurstbourne. These days, I avoid it at all cost.

Hey hey hey!!! (Standing up, waving arms and pointing...)

Apart from being unhappy to see Amerigo go, did all you folks notice that the press release went exclusively to LHB and not the CJ (or even the LEO which I still love and respect) or a TV/radio station? Doesn't that say something substantial about LHB's presence in the restaurant industry in Louisville?

That location and that wood fired oven deserve something cool! I hope someone creative with a love for bourbon and craft beer does something with it!

Certainly sounds like a great idea to me! Roger, are you listening?

Hey hey hey!!! (Standing up, waving arms and pointing...)

Apart from being unhappy to see Amerigo go, did all you folks notice that the press release went exclusively to LHB and not the CJ (or even the LEO which I still love and respect) or a TV/radio station? Doesn't that say something substantial about LHB's presence in the restaurant industry in Louisville?

¡Bravo! LHB, Robin and the community ¡Bravo!

Wow! I got a call just 2 days ago from a guy (I presume the Chef?) looking to source some Filet Tips for Amerigo... must have happened pretty quick!