Peter Frost in Chicago wrote:Of course, closings are common in this high-failure industry. What’s different now is the caliber of the restaurants that may not survive—ones putting out great food and packing the house. In the past year alone, such critical darlings as MK, Tru, Intro, 42 Grams, Dixie, Ruxbin, and Vera have bitten the dust. Expect others to follow.
ronnie_suburban wrote:This is a real shame, though talent of this level will surely land another prime gig soon. Whether or not Duffy and Muser will be able to negotiate for equity is another matter.
As for what happens next in this space, I can see it going either way. Perhaps, given his actions here, the owner will find it difficult to recruit top-level talent to run his "new" place. On the other hand, we're a pretty myopic group here; far more focused on happenings like this than most other folks. I wonder if most potential diners will ever know or care what happened to bring Grace to its end.
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Jonah wrote:Everybody seems pretty quick to blame the owner without knowing any of the facts. My experience in these kinds of disputes is that there is plenty of blame to go around.
Jonah wrote:Everybody seems pretty quick to blame the owner without knowing any of the facts. My experience in these kinds of disputes is that there is plenty of blame to go around.
Gypsy Boy wrote:Jonah wrote:Everybody seems pretty quick to blame the owner without knowing any of the facts. My experience in these kinds of disputes is that there is plenty of blame to go around.
How could Olszewski not seen or expected to deal with this issue at some point?
Gypsy Boy wrote:I work through in my mind leaves me in the same place: how could Olszewski not seen or expected to deal with this issue at some point?
Gypsy Boy wrote:According to the piece in the Eater:
"The Sun-Times received a statement from the restaurant’s majority owner, real estate agent Michael Olszewski, who confirmed the shutter: 'This space will live to see another day with yet another great restaurant headed by a new team that will make Chicago and the restaurant community proud.'”
It's hard to imagine what planet this guy lives on. Whether money can buy happiness may be open to debate, but it's clear that it can't buy brains. [Or, as my grandmother would have said, saichel (Yiddish for intelligence, or wisdom, or common sense).]
ronnie_suburban wrote:Not taking sides here but one could look at the other side of this and ask why Duffy and Muser would agree to deals in which the right to eventually acquire equity was not specifically promised to them.
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stevez wrote:ronnie_suburban wrote:Not taking sides here but one could look at the other side of this and ask why Duffy and Muser would agree to deals in which the right to eventually acquire equity was not specifically promised to them.
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That's my question, too. It's not like it was Duffy & Muser's first rodeo. Why would a chef of Duffy's calibre and experience not negotiate at least a small stake from the get go. I'm sure we will never know the full story, but I'll bet it's an interesting one.
Royal Lichter wrote:Curtis promises the full story eventually:
http://makeitbetter.net/dining/curtis-d ... hats-next/
nsxtasy wrote:Jeff Ruby of Chicago magazine has posted his take:
Without Grace, Chicago’s Restaurant Scene Is Forever Changed
Duffy and Muser reportedly have a non-compete clause that will prevent them from opening another restaurant in the near future.
ronnie_suburban wrote:Here's the biggest take-away from Ruby's piece . . .Duffy and Muser reportedly have a non-compete clause that will prevent them from opening another restaurant in the near future.
ronnie_suburban wrote:nsxtasy wrote:Jeff Ruby of Chicago magazine has posted his take:
Without Grace, Chicago’s Restaurant Scene Is Forever Changed
Here's the biggest take-away from Ruby's piece . . .Duffy and Muser reportedly have a non-compete clause that will prevent them from opening another restaurant in the near future.
Ouch.
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AngrySarah wrote:IIRC, noncompetes have to be limited in time and location. So if they move to another city...
block[s] them from investing in or even working for another restaurant in the Chicago area for 18 months. That clause covers Cook, Will, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake and McHenry Counties.