CraigJustCraig

To correct some obvious misunderstandings in this thread, which is just now coming to my attention....

I owned J'anita's and, yes, we now run the kitchen at The Blind Pelican.

1) We did not leave The Avenue Pub voluntarily. We were informed by owner Polly Watts that our mutual experiment with subleasing their kitchen was no longer working for her. We agreed, since a)wait times for food on heavy nights were much too long because the kitchen is only 90sqft and b) too many customers were drinking only water or soft drinks and taking tables from those buying the bar's upscale craft beer. This beer is the bar's mainstay. We agreed with her business decision it was time for us to go. We remain good friends.

2) Our move to The Rendon Inn was a case of "first available space." We have bills to pay and we had six days to move. The Rendon was open so we took it. Had we had, say, another week or so to find a new space, we would likely have found a better location.

3) Our move out of The Rendon came after a year of being in an awful location that yielded no personal income and nearly resulted in us losing our house (an issue I am still working on). I figured it was better to stop digging the hole deeper. I worked for two months at Rouse's to at least keep the utilities paid.

4) Given my 'druthers, we'd still be at our original location on Magazine St., next to the old Jackson restaurant. But that has proven to be a terrible location for virtually any business. All of our being "nomads" has been involuntary -- except for the last decision to stop the bleeding by leaving The Rendon. Live and learn.

5) Thanks to those of you who have come to see us at The Blind Pelican. We are working in a kitchen that is still too small for the volume it sometimes faces in such a high-profile location. Physical changes are underway.