re: Pelican House to close

quote:

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I guess the chain restaurants and my lack of culinary adventure are why PH went out of business? GTFO.

I will tell you one thing that letter did accomplish. I will never eat at another restaurant he opens. Good job there Chef

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It did come across as a "thanks, but this is your fault you uncultured rubes" letter.

There was the "I'm doing this because I want to spend more time with out family" reason. No one buys that. The place didn't work out. It's a tough business. It happens. There's no shame in that, but don't sell us that line of bullshite.

Then the pretentious "people of BR, raise your culinary standards" line, as if THAT is the reason the place failed. No, if your place was good enough it wouldn't have failed.

I think the big issue is that it had an identity crisis in a crappy location. It seems like (at first) it wanted to be a cool neighborhood bar in a restaurant's skin and in a location without a neighborhood. When you walked in you couldn't quite figure out if it was bar or restaurant. Contrast it with the Bulldog which really leaves little doubt that it is a bar first. It's as if someone started a bar in a former Piccadilly.

As for its hopes in becoming a family-friendly restaurant, the location sucks. Nothing has worked in that area...even those "dirty chain" restaurants. The only "local" place that has really ever worked there is Mansur's, and that's because Mansur's had built up a reputation long before it moved to a freaking strip mall.

You never get any joy in seeing someone's dream and hard work fail. But just say "thanks" and "we'll try again." Be humble and appreciative to those who did support your business. Telling people essentially that you being to good for them is the reason YOU failed is condescending. Take some accountability. Learn some tough lessons and get better. But don't tell your potential future customers that it's your fricking fault we have to shut down.