Cafe 27 is no more? Restructuring reportedly is underway.

(8:30 p.m.: I've altered the banner to reflect seeing a Fb posting earlier, in which it is implied that the new menu is Cafe 27's new menu. To be honest, I'm not sure which is Liquidz, which is Cafe 27, and whether Who remains on first. It is very confusing)

Ever since last Friday, when a Fb friend reported Cafe 27's impending closure, I've been trying to gather information. It has been foggy, so here is what can be discerned.

Cafe 27, as constituted since opening in May of 2013, is no more. This from Chef Zack Wolf's page at Fb:

Just to let everyone know. I am no longer the chef at Cafe 27, nor do I have any more affiliation with that place. I am moving on to bigger and better things and will be keeping everyone posted as I transition into something more stable. I want to thank everyone I met, worked with, and served over the past year. It was my pleasure to work with all of you, and serve Southern Indiana some great food! I will be staying locally and will hopefully be keeping some of the loved menu items into my next venture. Keep checking back as I will update as more info becomes available!

Given that Liquidz, the club/bar component, is ongoing, there remains a food menu. It was posted just last evening at the Cafe 27 Fb page (the Cafe 27 web site is gone).

Please bare with us while we are restructuring... We still have great homemade food, just a much smaller menu . Will we be building up the menu as we grow. Please join us at liquidz tonight for Lindaz Lazer city karaoke and DJ S DOT starting at 9:00

The new menu was pictured:

Last weekend, a Twitter friend close to the situation suggested that the owners of Cafe 27 might be negotiating with representatives of Le Gallo Rosso, an Italian eatery in Louisville that closed earlier this summer (lease issues, if I recall). Mike Kopp confirmed this rumor earlier this week at the merchant mixer meeting. Now I'm told this is off the table, and that the Le Gallo Rosso people are looking elsewhere in New Albany.

Is there such a thing as an Italian/Irish joint?

To reiterate something I've written previously, downtown business conditions have been rocky this summer. Vectren has been dynamiting sidewalks since winter, and the Main Street Deforestation Project has disrupted traffic. The Big Four Bridge has shifted attention to Jeffersonville. Best of luck to the Cafe 27/Liquidz folks as they plot new courses. I know how hard that can be, believe me.

These Cafe 27 posts at NAC provide an overview. Note that Jackson's is no longer with us, either.

June 22, 2009

Information, please: Jackson's Seafood and Liquidz Bar & Grill.

September 8, 2012

Cafe 27 opening to be pushed back a bit, says Chef.

May 26, 2013

Cafe 27 opens for business on Memorial Day.

July 2, 2014

New Cafe 27 business hours.

New Cafe 27 business hours.

From the Cafe 27 Fb page comes notice of changing hours at the Main Street eatery. Rest assured that having just emerged from a lengthy period of business introspection, I'm feeling much solidarity with Cafe 27. The words "tough economy" are being repeated all over; just last week, a downtown retailer observed to me, "If anyone says they're doing well, they're lying."

And if anyone in city government says that downtown has been a conducive spot for doing business these past few months, he's lying, too. But let's leave that for another time.

---

WE want to thank each of you for making Cafe 27 your destination for a great meal, fun and entertainment for the last year. We have been struggling to find a way in this tough economy to provide you with the quality and service that you have come to love. However, with recent street closures, Main Street improvements and fluctuating costs ... we have determined that we must restructure in order to stay afloat and continue to provide our guests with the highest quality dining and entertainment experience possible. So, effective immediately, Cafe 27/Liquidz will ONLY be open Thursday through Saturday evenings for dinner service from 5pm to 11pm, serving our full cafe menu. We have also added a late night bar menu that will be served from 11pm until 2am for all our night owls. We will continue to offer our great entertainment: DJ SDot, Linda'z Lazer City Karaoke and Amazing Live Music. We will also be adding a couple of pool tables.

We hope these changes will help us thrive, and that we will continue to earn your business. Please continue to make Cafe 27 your destination for all your dining and entertainment needs. Make your reservations for a great night out on the town. Change is hard ... for all of us! But with our community's support, we will be packed every weekend. Hope to see you here soon.

Cafe 27 opens for business on Memorial Day.

The work at Cafe 27 on Main Street has been underway for quite a while ...

Cafe 27 opening to be pushed back a bit, says Chef.

 ... but now downtown has a new eatery, opening tomorrow. The north side of Main Street between Pearl and Bank is getting there, and we wish good fortune to the owners, chef and staff. 

Cafe 27 page at Facebook

Even One Southern Indiana is getting into the act (sighhh).

Cafe 27 Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening
Date: 5/31/2013
Time: 11:00 AM

145 E Main Street
New Albany, IN 47150

Phone: 812-945-0266

Cafe 27 opening to be pushed back a bit, says Chef.

Executive Chef Zachary Wolf of the soon-to-be Cafe 27 (147 East Main Street in New Albany) provides an update on the restaurant's progress, along with a clarification or two, following yesterday's posting: Welcome: Cafe 27 catches us by surprise, kinda sorta.

Liquidz is still in play and will be coming sometime next year if things go right. Cafe 27 will be next door to Liquidz and will be separate from the bar ... our early October opening of Cafe 27 is not looking likely. We are trying to transform the building and install the necessary equipment, but setbacks are not helping in getting open in time. We are looking to open sometime in the late fall, either late October or early November if everything goes correctly. I will update you when I know more.

Thanks, Chef. We eagerly await further updates.

Welcome: Cafe 27 catches us by surprise, kinda sorta.

Perhaps to be filed under "Better Late Than Never" is the news that the long-gestating Liquidz on Main Street will instead be called Cafe 27. In January, Business First was sticking with the previous name (and sign). Here at NAC, we've been watching the build-out since 2009, and while everyone's had eyes fixed on Exchange just down the street, Cafe 27 now sneaks into the burgeoning downtown eatery mix.

So, follow the link, look for the "Media and Press" tab at the web site, and view the eight-page press release (pdf format) for your reading and viewing pleasure.

Welcome to Cafe 27

Cafe 27 is going to be New Albany's premier dining spot featuring a seasonal menu, courteous staff, and an eclectic atmosphere. Come Celebrate with us at our Grand Opening Event on October 5th, 2012.

Located in the heart of Downtown New Albany, Cafe 27 provides a break from the normal routine and offers our patrons a fun and satisfying dining experience.