Restaurant moving into Cafe de Paris space downtown

CHRIS DORST | Gazette file photo

Officials say a restaurant will move into the former Cafe De Paris space at the corner of Capitol and Quarrier Streets in Charleston.

There is still no physical indication or word from the business or building owner as to what is moving into the former Cafe de Paris space located at 201 Capitol Street, but the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department confirmed Tuesday a business started the paperwork to operate a restaurant there.

Matt Ballard, Charleston Area Alliance president and CEO, whose organization has been working for several months now with that business, said the restaurant moving into the space is not a Steak Escape, despite rumors circulating around town.

Its not a national chain, Ballard said. Its West Virginia-based.

Building owner John Smallridge is in the restaurant industry himself, and has previously franchised Steak Escape restaurants.

Smallridge could not be reach for comment.

The business applied for the Alliances facade design grant, Ballard told the Gazette in December. He added the new business addition would complement the existing businesses around it.

At Smallridges request, David Winowich, with KCHD, would not disclose the name of the business. The paperwork hasnt officially been filed with the health department yet.

Hayes Brothers Construction spent a week in mid-December removing the main floor and some fixtures from the former French restaurant.

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Restaurant moving into Cafe de Paris space downtown