All good things come to an end, even in New Orleans. The Palace Cafe announced on social media yesterday:
Friends, it is with heavy hearts that we share that Palace Café will close its doors on July 7th.For 34 years, Palace Café has stood proudly on Canal Street as a vibrant reflection of New Orleans — our music, our food, our people, our joy. Since opening in 1991 in the iconic Werlein’s music building, we’ve had the extraordinary privilege of serving millions of guests from around the world and right here at home.We’ve witnessed weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, business deals, adoptions, Mardi Gras Magic, and even a few presidential visits. We’ve seen proposals (they all said yes!) and quiet moments that turned into lasting memories. Being a part of your lives has been the greatest gift of all.None of it would have been possible without the remarkable people who brought Palace Café to life each day. Our team – past and present – poured their talent, heart, and hospitality into every moment. They are the soul of Palace Café and the reason that so many guests felt at home here. We are forever grateful for the joy, grace, and resilience they’ve shown over the years.This moment comes not by choice, but by circumstance. A recent court ruling tied to our 35-year lease has made it impossible to continue operations at 605 Canal. We are appealing the decision and holding onto hope, but for now, we must say goodbye to this beloved corner of the French Quarter.We’re not ready to say Palace Café is gone forever. Should the right opportunity arise, we will welcome it with open arms. In the meantime, you can still find us doing what we love at our sister restaurants across the city.Thank you, New Orleans, for 34 unforgettable years. You’ll always be part of our story.With Gratitude,Lauren, Dickie & Steve
The Brennan family owns the restaurant. Palace Cafe lost its lease. The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate reported yesterday:
The move comes as Palace Café nears the end of a 35-year lease. A purchase agreement was included in that lease, and the restaurant’s operators were working toward a deal to purchase the property from its owners, Philip Werlein, Ltd., a company from members of the Werlein family. A dispute on the fair market value brought both sides into Civil District Court. It centered on the value of improvements made to the property by the restaurant group, and whether these should be included in the purchase price. In June, Judge Ellen Hazeur ruled in favor of the Werlein family, court records show. A representative for the Werlein family was not immediately able to comment. Rest of article. The ruling is being appealed. In the meantime, Steve Pettus, managing partner of Dickie Brennan & Co., said it was no longer "fiscally responsible" to continue to operate the restaurant. The disparity between the assessed values for the property is too great to purchase it, and terms offered for a new lease to continue operating were five times higher than the previous lease, Pettus said. Depending on the appeal, Pettus said reopening Palace Café at its original location was a possibility. The company is also “interested in reimagining and reopening Palace Café” elsewhere should the right location arise.... Palace Café was first conceived by the city’s leading restaurant family, the Brennans, as the next generation’s read on the Creole dining experience. Initially, it was a more casual offshoot of the family’s Garden District landmark Commander’s Palace. The chef Dickie Brennan, his sister Lauren Brower and Pettus, their business partner, would soon take on the operation as the first location for their Dickie Brennan & Co. group. Dishes like crabmeat cheesecake, catfish pecan meuniere and white chocolate bread pudding are among its signatures. The debut of Palace Café also marked a rebirth of a historic building, with its Beaux Arts façade and intricate architectural details. It was the flagship for the Werlein’s music store brand from 1905 to 1990. Generations of New Orleans residents came here to buy their instruments and sheet music, including some of the city’s most famous musicians, including Dr. John and Fats Domino.
Well that's a bummer. The restaurant was very convenient if going to a show at the Saenger or Joy theatres. It was a beautiful restaurant as seen below and great for people watching on Canal Street.
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| Credit: Times-Picayune |
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| Credit: Times-Picayune |
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| Credit: Times-Picayune |
2 comments:
Sad to see this. There’s a ton of great restaurants in New Orleans obviously but few in the heart of the touristy hotel area on Canal. They did a great job and I’m sure some landlord will welcome them. The current building owner must be holding out for a Wendy’s or a vape shop. Really sad. Tujague’s had to call a similar bluff, and they are in a better, newer, more convenient locale.
LaToya the Destroya
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