The Tribune's Daniel Suddeath broke the story yesterday:
Toast on Market coming to New Albany.
Toast on Market — a Louisville-based restaurant noted for its breakfast selection — soon will be opening in New Albany, sources confirmed Monday.
This potentially tasty tidbit first bubbled to the surface last week after if became known that the old Fair Store building finally would be changing hands after more than one false start. Matt Bergman, one of the buyers, describes a reality utterly alien to the clueless Coffeys and pernicious Prices of the local reactionary political scene:
“We want to do our part as much as we can,” he said. “Downtown is getting ready to pop and we want it to be pretty again.”
Bergman believes historical buildings throughout downtown can be filled with residents and businesses, providing New Albany with a solid form of tax revenue.
Whoa, Matt. That's still a revolutionary concept to generations of New Albanians raised to doubt their own capabilities and to loath those who don't, and it's sure to arouse the sneering hackles of our community's Gary McCartin Cornfield Paving Development Cadre ... but your observation has the simple merit of being absolutely true, and that surely counts for something, even in McCartin's beloved cookie-cutter exurb.
It's also important to note that reporter Suddeath eschews the usual local interview subjects and looks instead to a Louisvillian who knows what he's talking about (are you reading, Cappuccino?) to preview Toast and handicap the situation.
Louisville food critic Robin Garr — whose restaurant reviews can be found at LouisvilleHotBytes.com — said he has been impressed with the original Toast.
“They have a fairly narrow focus — breakfast and lunch in an affordable price range, but with imaginative touches that separate it from a mere diner,” Garr said by e-mail. “I think it was amazing the way it took off so fast when it opened on East Market a while back. It was a hit from day one, and continues to be popular.
Garr continued by saying he hopes Toast does well in New Albany, but noted the city’s recent less-than-stellar track record in supporting “innovative restaurants.” He cited the closing of Bistro New Albany, Treet’s Bakery and Connor’s Place. The latter is expected to reopen, however.
“New Albany may not yet be a strong market for this kind of independent restaurant” Garr said. “If Toast comes over, I hope they can break this pattern.”
That's a fair assessment.
Each time I observe the antics at our bi-monthly city council dunking booth and pie-throwing gallery, it occurs to me that the absence of a creative imagination is the single biggest example of the city's stunted growth. The small pond Coffeys and Prices can't imagine dining at Toast in million years, which is fine -- but what isn't fine is drawing the conclusions that (a) no one wishes to dine there, (b) the sort of people who would are personally objectionable to the conjoined councilmen, and (c) we should all continue to live in abject physical and psychological squalor lest we learn something better.
So, good luck to Toast. An increasing number of us "get it," and we'll do our best to support you. Just remember to sit with your back to the wall, especially if your benumbed councilman comes to visit ... and keep a roll of bologna around just in case. Did you know it's perfect for barbecuing?
Toast on Market
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6 comments:
holy frick! how exciting!
I'm glad to see the Tribune seek outside sources and usually appreciate Robin Garr's insight, but I think he missed the mark a little with this particular assessment.
Connor's didn't close due to a lack of local support. It closed temporarily to move. I don't think owner Dave Himmel would reopen and add another restaurant in the process if he felt like there wasn't an adequate customer base.
The Bistro/Treat's situation was also somewhat unique owing to the conjoined ownership between the two. Treat's in particular was the recipient of much active community support.
When one actually compares the number of recent and upcoming openings to closings, the food and dining scene in New Albany overwhelmingly exhibits a pattern of confidence in the market. That's one we don't want to break.
The New Albanian's point about lingering, self-loathing defeatism still stands, of course.
We're at a time when the more rational voices in city government need to make a strong showing, eschewing the usual personality politics and taking principled stands on the more practical tasks necessary to move the city forward. We can't stand another four years of self-serving avoidance.
We know very clearly who's not intellectually strong enough to do that. It will be interesting to see who is.
And, by the way, Toast is really, really good and walking will be much better than driving.
I think it is fantastic that downtown is making such a comeback. It is becoming a destination, not a stop off point on the way to Louisville or Caesar's. Here's a "toast"..to Toast, wishing them the best success in there venture here in New Albany.
Caesar's is fading into the past. Let's get used to calling it the "Horseshoe," paying tribute to Mr. Binion's legacy.
Still, I'm looking forward to 2 eggs, toast, and hash browns for under $5. Breakfast, anyone?
To me, the Horseshoe always will be the redneck dive bar on Spring where a law office (I think) is now, complete with rooftop beer garden.
Actually, I think that the Horseshoe Bar crumbled to the ground a few years ago, and that the lot is now vacant. The lot is beside the Bird & Sturgeon law office. I was working in my office when the building collapsed. My partner and I thought that it was an earthquake at first.
The Horseshoe was indeed a redneck dive bar. It was the hangout of many motorcycle gang members. I once made the mistake of going in there with a tie on. A fellow patron seemed to take great offense at my attire, but I won him over with my charming personality. It turns out that he'd just been released from prison. Nice place.
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