JOSEPH JOHNSON

DEMOLISHED: The Clocktower in Hornby has been torn down to make way for a restaurant.

The landmark Clocktower building in Hornby is being replaced by a national restaurant chain.

The 1960s building was deemed uneconomic to repair after it was damaged in the December 2011 quakes, just a year after it was stripped back and refitted.

David Cresswell, director of building owner Epoch, said the company wanted to keep the building, but it was not financially viable to do so.

Demolition began three weeks ago and is expected to be completed by the end of next month.

Construction of a new single-storey building, which will house a national restaurant chain, will begin by the end of the year, Cresswell said. It was expected the new building would be finished by the middle of next year.

Cresswell would not say which restaurant chain was the new tenant. The name would be released in about a month, he said.

Continued here:
Restaurant to replace Clocktower building

By Cheryl Allison callison@mainlinemedianews.com

The Lower Merion Zoning Hearing Board voted Sept. 16 to deny Federal Realty Investment Trusts request to modify conditions imposed in 1953, when the property was being developed with a John Wanamakers department store.

The vote, in which members Kenneth Brier and Charles Davidson participated, was based in part on jurisdictional issues. However, the board also determined that relief to add several thousand square feet of building space was not warranted on the basis that the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners, apparently unaware of the building limits, had earlier approved a development plan for a new restaurant pad site.

The case goes back to 2013, when township commissioners, in a hard-fought decision, approved Federal Realtys preliminary plan of land development calling for demolition of an unused postal service building in the rear parking lot. Construction of a restaurant building with a large covered outdoor seating area, nearly doubling the size of the existing building, was proposed.

Federal Realty appealed that decision, which imposed limits on hours and a ban on outdoor music, among other conditions, in response to concerns raised by neighbors about the proximity of the restaurant to homes in the Shortridge neighborhood. (The restaurant tenant, a Mad Mex restaurant and bar, recently opened in a different location in the shopping center, inside the former Borders Books building.)

Related: View photos of Mad Mex at Wynnewood Shopping Center.

It was only after the plans received approval that the 1953 conditions were rediscovered. Federal Realty then appealed Zoning Officer Michael Wylies determination that the conditions still applied, even though other expansions had occurred over the years, exceeding the 1953 limits.

The company asked the zoning board to eliminate or modify a number of the old conditions, leading to lengthy hearings at which the township, represented by its solicitor, Gilbert High, and the Shortridge Civic Association vigorously opposed the request.

In March, the zoning board grated partial relief, permitting existing square footage to remain, also allowing a previously approved but unbuilt elevator addition. But it ruled that Federal Realty would have to return to seek further relief for the restaurant expansion, pending court action on the appeal.

Instead, the shopping center owner withdrew its appeal, accepting the conditions of preliminary plan approval. Saying that it wanted to pick up where it had left off on the restaurant plan, and applied for the additional relief. Hearings were held on the matter over two nights in July. Continued...

Here is the original post:
Relief denied for Wynnewood Shopping Center restaurant plan

Nearly $1 million in renovations planned at the Treasure Island Marina building will bring a new look, but also kick the Tin Roof Restaurant out of its home for up to six months.

Craig Hughes has operated the restaurant in the city owned building along the Great Miami River for five years. Hes reviewing options for survival after meeting last week with city representatives to discuss the renovations planned as part of a riverfront development effort.

We wished we could get improvements done in the building. Be careful what you wish for, Hughes said with a laugh. When he contracted with the city to run the restaurant, he spoke of dreams of canoe rentals and other river activities from and near the building that in earlier times was a focal point of river races and other events.

Initially notified that the closing would be at least 90 days beginning Jan. 1, that period was extended in the verbal discussion. Patrick Titterington, city service and safety director, said the closing could be as long as six months, give or take.

The restaurant and its equipment will need to vacate the building during construction. Hughes said hes looking at options including obtaining a food trailer to take the business on the road while the Tin Roof is displaced.

We are farm people, we know how to survive, Hughes said. Well roll with it.

The project will include repairing the deteriorating building and making vacant space, such as a room with a fireplace, usable. The alternative to renovating, Titterington said, would be demolition, costing up to an estimated $650,000.

City Council voted this summer to support the $10 million riverfront development project updating and enhancing the marina building, Treasure Island Park and Hobart Arena. Of the project, $7.2 million would be for the arena with the balance for the marina and Treasure Island Park.

The $1 million for marina renovations, in a nearly $2 million re-appropriation ordinance council approved Sept. 3, is the only construction money approved for the project so far. The balance of the re-appropriated money dollars moved from the general fund to the capital improvement fund - was for completing design of the three projects. Council still would need to vote on borrowing money for the rest of the project.

Hughes said plans for a renovated building are exciting. It is going to be a beautiful showplace when done, he said.

Link:
Marina building project to displace restaurant

An artist's rendering of Jinsei

A group of historic district residents is appealing a decision by the city's Planning and Zoning Commission that approved the construction of a modern-looking building for a restaurant.

Jinsei, a sushi and Japanese restaurant planned for University Boulevard across from the University Club, gained unanimous approval from the commission last month after officials with the city's Planning and Development Services said the plans meet all current guidelines. None of the commission members voiced any objections.

But the vote came over the protests of several residents who said the current design does not fit in with the look of the historic homes near the now-vacant lot where the Birmingham-based restaurant plans to operate.

Those residents now want the City Council to overrule the Planning and Zoning Commission's decision.

On Tuesday, the City Council is set to hold a public hearing for an appeal brought by a number of residents who live near the planned development.

In the appeal letter sent to City Hall to start the appeal process, the residents outline four key objections:

-- It violates the letter and spirit of the buffer zone requirements as specified in the Buffer Zone Guidelines.

-- It threatens the city's new plan to create a world-class corridor along University Boulevard between downtown and the University of Alabama.

-- It violates the city's zoning ordinance relating to required parking spaces and restaurant size.

Read this article:
Downtown residents appeal decision on Tuscaloosa sushi restaurant

OCEAN CITY -

Patty Davis hasn't forgotten the road construction project that, starting last Fall, cut off street access to her Bay Avenue Restaurant.

"The hardest thing was communication. Just not knowing when the work crews were coming, when the roads were going to be closed, the access people would have on Bay Avenue," said Davis.

But just when they though their troubles were over, the owners of Bongo Caf and Grill learned about more road work scheduled for this fall.

"The town engineer was very honest with us, said Davis. He said they're gonna be ripping up this whole corner. It's just we don't know when."

It's that uncertainty that has Patty closing up the restaurant for good, much to the dismay of her regular customers.

"One of the waitresses told us and I burst into tears, said Marcella Canfarotta, who has been coming to the restaurant since it opened. Just, I was so sad."

"It's just a shame because you got a place that really captured the imagination of a lot of people," said Ron Giaconia, another loyal customer.

"We decided that we just didn't want to go through what we went through last winter, not knowing when we could open, what the access to the restaurant was going to be, said Davis.

Davis says she's planning to spend time with family in Pennsylvania while they plan their next move, but there's no hard feeling between her and the city.

See the original post here:
Ocean City restaurant closing due to road work - NBC40.net

Years ago, Keith Ward seldom saw a restaurant inspector at the Goulds diner his family has now operated for about 50 years.

The Taj Mahal restaurant's previous location on Water Street Thursday. Photo by Rhonda Hayward/The Telegram

There were times you never saw an inspector for three or four years, Ward said Thursday.

All thats changed now and in recent years the inspections are more frequent, more diligent and keep up with changing regulations and standards.

When those (Service NL) guys come in, if you dont comply, they will shut you down. Thats life, Ward said of the ultimate potential punishment for non-compliant restaurants.

Prior to that, you were never really compelled to do it.

ForWard, the due diligence of the inspectors is in keeping with changing times that focus more on health, just like eliminating smoking in public venues.

Everything has changed. I think what (the inspectors) are doing is OK. Theres nothing wrong with it, it makes you a better business owner, he said.

Thursday was the first time Ward of Keiths Diner and Take Out was asked about his restaurant inspection by anyone in the public, in this case a Telegram reporter.

But he said when the inspections went public, it kept restaurant operators on their toes and gave the public some peace of mind.

Original post:
Service NL says education, not public reports, has helped restaurant compliance

Chipotle Mexican Grill, a fast-casual eatery, is building its first Montana restaurant at West Park Promenade in Billings.

Construction of the 4,592-square-foot restaurant began Monday in front of Luckys Market and across the street from Panda Express.

On Wednesday, workers for Langlas Construction were clearing dirt for the $563,300 building at 1601 Grand Ave. Billings planning officials estimated construction of the shell would be completed in six to eight weeks, and the company would likely need to file more permits for additional work.

Officials at Denver-based Chipotle did not return a call Tuesday.

Chipotle, whose name is derived from a Spanish name for smoked and dried peppers, was founded in 1993 and now has more than 1,600 locations in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and France.

Chipotle serves Mexican-style burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, chips and salsa, and salads.

The company is credited with pioneering fast-casual dining, one of the fastest-growing restaurant sectors in the nation.

All Chipotle restaurants are corporate-owned, not local franchises.

View post:
Construction begins on Chipotle restaurant at West Park Promenade

TAMPA (FOX 13) -

Call it a restaurant revolution in the Bay Area. There are several new destination dining spots opening up in town, and many of them are backed by big-name owners who've already seen great success.

Late last year, Bern's Steakhouse owner David Laxer added the Epicurean and began remodeling Sidebern's, which is set to reopen in December.

SoHo Hospitality Management, the management company of Ciro's Speakeasy and Restaurant, Boca, and CopperFish, opened Bizou Brasserie at Le Meridien hotel this summer.

The Gonzmart family tradition in Tampa expanded from the Columbia restaurant to the new Ulele, which opened just a few weeks ago.

Meanwhile, Greg and Michelle Baker's success with the Refinery in Seminole Heights has led to building their new venture, Fodder and Shine.

We visited another new South Tampa hotspot that just opened in September -- Roux.

"This side of the bar is modeled after one of the iconic restaurants in New Orleans: Arnaud's," explained owner Roger Perry.

He and his wife already own Datz and Dough in South Tampa.

"We've shown almost double-digit growth from the day it opened," he said.

The rest is here:
Tampa diners hungry for new restaurants

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The Tumbleweed Tex-Mex Grill and Margarita Bar at Waterfront Park owes the Waterfront Development Corp. about $30,000 in rent, said Cordell Lawrence, the Waterfront agency's finance director.

Tumbleweed has not paid the agency for the three-month period ended in June, and it has another quarterly payment due in about 30 days, Lawrence said.

He could not say exactly how much the restaurant owes because the rent is not fixed; rather, it's 3.5 percent of the restaurant's gross sales, which usually is about $30,000, Lawrence said.

Rick Schardein, a spokesman for Tumbleweed, acknowledged the withholding of the quarterly rent payment to the Waterfront, which he said is a negotiating tactic to gain more favorable terms in the restaurant's lease, which expires July 15, 2015.

Tumbleweed also pays about $20,000 a month to a company called WaterWeed LLC, Schardein said. That obligation to WaterWeed apparently stems from the financing of the 2004 construction of the building at 1201 River Road.

Schardein said the lease with payments to both WaterWeed and to the Waterfront agency is too costly for the restaurant, which is not profitable.

He said the 27 other Tumbleweed restaurants in the Louisville-based chain are subsidizing the operation of the Waterfront restaurant.

(T)he current lease structure makes it impossible to operate that facility in a profitable manner, said Matt Higgins, president and CEO of Tumbleweed Restaurants, Inc., in a prepared statement.

Schardein acknowledged that Tumbleweed agreed to the lease in 2004, though he said the restaurant group was under different leadership at that time.

WaterWeed which leases the property from the Waterfront and subleases it to Tumbleweed served Tumbleweed notice on Sept. 3 that is attempting to evict the restaurant, according to Tumbleweed's statement.

Read the original:
Tumbleweed restaurant at Waterfront Park behind on rent, not turning profit

Construction and fit-out specialist Medlock FRB has secured major city centre leisure projects on both sides of the Pennines.

Oldham-based Medlock has been awarded the fit-out of a new Fazenda restaurant in Manchester, and the conversion of a former bank into a cinema in Sheffield.

The Brazilian-inspired Fazenda steakhouse is due to open next month on The Avenue, Spinningfields. Two units are being converted into a restaurant with 180 indoor covers and outdoor seating for 50. The venue will create more than 60 jobs.

The project follows a successful 10-week contract undertaken by Medlock last year for a Fazenda restaurant in Exchange Square, Liverpool.

Steve Taylor, head of business development at Medlock, said: We are delighted to be working with City District Group on another of its Fazenda venues.

The finished product will be a fantastic addition to Manchesters vibrant restaurant scene.

For Medlock, this project further demonstrates our strong growth in city centre restaurant and bar completions, as our expertise as a specialist leisure contractor becomes more widely recognised.

Meanwhile, Medlock has begun converting the grade II listed former home of The Sheffield Banking Company for arthouse film specialist Curzon Cinemas.

The three-storey building on George Street will feature three auditoriums, a luxury 22-seat private cinema, a rooftop garden terrace for summer screenings, and a bar.

Medlock is carrying out excavations, underpinning, structural alterations, repairs and restoration work to listed building features, followed by an internal fit-out. The project

Read the original:
New wins for Medlock FRB