THE GREEN MOUSE: Match Cigar Bar NA is no more, but what's up with the restaurant rumored to be coming to the space?

I'll skip the post mortems, because I feel absolutely awful about Match Cigar Bar closing after only seven months in business.

The original Match/Riverside location remains open in Jeffersonville, and so all the best to Jeff Mouttet and his team, both now and in the future. I'm a tremendous fan of what he's accomplished in Jeffersonville, and I wish it had turned out differently here in New Albany.

Now, into the future.

The three conjoined buildings that comprise the (now) former Match Cigar Bar and Urban Bread Company floor plans, located on the north side of Main Street between Pearl and Bank, were purchased by 145-151 East Main Street LLC as of January 20, 2017.

This doesn't tell us much, does it?

They're directly across Main Street from the long moribund Reisz Furniture building. Match Cigar Bar opened in June, and the Urban Bread Company ceased operations at its New Albany location in September. When Urban Bread left, we were surprised to hear a frankly extortionate quote for monthly rent in the vacated space, which never filled during the remaining months of Match's tenure.

In between these June and September markers (on August 8), it was announced that City Hall would move to the Reisz building, slated for renovation by the Denton Floyd real estate and construction firm.

Fast forward to two tips the Green Mouse has received in recent days.

On December 21, this.

I wanted to let you know this is the second time I've seen some of the bigger real estate guys in from Louisville in downtown New Albany. I have a feeling something is brewing.

Then on December 31:

(Match's bartender) said a bunch of guys in suits were being toured through it around the time it closed, looking at the property.

Finally, the Fb post at the top of the page, referring to Match.

A guy came out and says it's just going to be a restaurant in about a month.

The Green Mouse knows at one time Tom O'Shea was looking at New Albany as a possible location for one of his family's excellent Irish-themed eateries. Supposedly his plans changed

More intriguingly, it's also known that some of Denton Floyd's key players are among the investors in the DOERS restaurant group, which owns the Parlour and Portage House restaurants in Jeffersonville.

Of course, before David Duggins surrendered his economic development brief (but did he really?) for a better paying job demolishing public housing units, he was a key element in all the preceding machinations.

Were they talking about Main Street options during that infamous day at Keeneland, or did the paid eye candy prove too much of a distraction?

It's smelling like a City Hall fix-is-in concept to us, but a month isn't much, and Team Gahan likes keeping us in the dark until the press release has been crafted to such a fine bureaucratic sheen that any stray soul is removed, so if you know the inside story, please pass it along.

The New Albany location of Urban Bread Co. has closed, meaning that a restaurant opportunity just opened downtown.

Keeping it short and sweet: The Urban Bread Co. location at 145 East Main Street has officially closed, according to Jeff Mouttet, owner of Match Cigar Bar and the departing eatery's landlord.

I hate to see closings, but we've seen them before, and will again. I'm assuming the restaurant's other locations remain open, so if you're an Urban Bread Co. fan, there's always Flat12 in Jeffersonville.

Mouttet says the vacated restaurant space at 145 E. Main remains viable and fully equipped, virtually a turnkey operation. This is an ideal opportunity for someone in the food biz who wishes to be downtown, and if you're that someone, call Jeff Mouttet at 502-643-0093.

Urban Bread Co. gets good ink at Insider Louisville.

Kevin Gibson reviews the Flat12 (Jeffersonville) location of Urban Bread Co., but the information pertains to 145 E. Main in New Albany, too.

Urban Bread Co. at Facebook

Urban Bread Co., formerly the Hub Roti Café, expands its unique food to new locations, by Kevin Gibson (Insider Louisville)

The Urban Bread Co. is attempting to take over Southern Indiana, or so it might seem given the recent moves the small company has made.

Previously known as the Hub Roti Café, which we covered last year, Urban Bread will vacate its original space, and it has since opened spots in New Albany and as a sort of permanent pop-up at Flat 12 Bierwerks in Jeffersonville. Meanwhile, another location is set to open as part of the Clark County Auto Auction, just a few miles east of the original location.

Owned by partners and family members Sam, Ben and Nick Jones, Urban Bread continues its vision of serving sandwiches on roti, a type of bread that creates a pocket of sorts, kind of like a taco.

The good news is the ingredients can range widely, creating the option for all sorts of interesting combinations. In addition, the core menu has expanded and shifted to bring about some new taste options.