Sunday, September 09, 2007
Save Volare?
Egads. Volare owner chef-owner Fabio Salazar says his business is down since he moved to Elizabeth from Myers Park. "I don't have much time to hang out over here," Salazar told the Observer, adding that he could call it quits in Elizabeth by the end of the year. Do we want to lose such a great restaurant? I wouldn't think so. I'm embarrassed to admit I haven't eaten at Volare since the move, so I can't say if they've lost a step. But I can say they were great on Providence.
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7 comments:
I saw that too and felt bad for the owner. The food is great--we love it. What happened is that the small space on Providence "fit" with the menu and was a great atmosphere, but the new place is like eating in a barn...drop the ceilings and make it more intimate. But in the end, I'd hate to lose them because the food really is great.
The same thing happened to Patou in Dilworth. They had a charming, smaller place on Park Road, and then moved into a cavernous place on East. It was completely different. Now it's gone. I hope we can save Volare.
How is Carpe Diem doing?
The main issue with Volare, is they did a bad job of structuring their lease with Grubb Properties. They got stuck paying rent for 8 months before they were ever open b/c of a poorly negotiated lease.
In a small restuarant operation like that, it is the death nail
Carpe Diem is doing well. I go there a couple of times a month.
It has probably been their best location to date. The quality of their food and the service has always been wonderful. I ate lunch last summer at the new Volare. Never having eaten at the M. P. location, I was looking forward to it. It was delicious but nothing that would cause me to return. Portions were SMALL even compared to other fine dining establishments. Service at lunch was slow even though the restaurant was half empty.
I've not been to Carpe Diem lately. I can safely say, however, that I've never had a bad experience there at any of their locations. And when I go by there it looks like it's getting good business.
I think if there are lease issues at Volare, then that can hasten the downfall of even the best-run business. I'm not saying this has happened at Volare, but when a business begins to cut corners to pay the rent, customers are sure to notice.
Patou changed ownership so that had a lot to do with their demise.
Drop the ceilings? Volare is located in an older home, that was the style of home construction at the turn-of-the-20th-century. I am sure future generations will think the McMansions to be garish.
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