FoodWire: Crepes in the City Shuttered?

• I just learned Crepes in the City is closed. I am so bummed. We have an apartment downtown and visit frequently. Crepes was one of the few rays of sunshine downtown. I can't comment on the alleged mismanagement, but I don't see anything wrong with the owners walking around to make sure all is well. Jose filled that role, but his wife was always helping in the kitchen and behind the counter when I was there. This place will be missed.

• Just got a request in the mail to OK a late liquor license request for a jazz club called Lola in that space. Hope it's not the same people who ran the St. Louis Jazz Club in the old Red Moon space! Lots of promises--none of them kept. Lots of noise, trash, drunks, etc. Will check it out further before I sign. Will really miss Crepes in the City!!!

• Sign just inside the door says the new restaurant will be called Lola. http://www.welovelola.com

• By roommate stopped by the other day and pulled on the door. There were two guys inside and one of them stuck their head out to greet him. He said they were planning on doing a lounge up the street when crepes closed and decide to move it to the new location. I don't think they're planning on doing anything like crepes but do plan on keeping the brunches and putting crepes on their menu. I got it second hand but it did sound cool, especially some live music downtown that doesn't consist of punk rock or hip hop.

• I went past last night and there was a sign that said "Opening Soon"; there was nowhere to park so I didn't get a chance to see what the details said.

• Word is that Crepes is re-opening...?

• Location, Location, Location? Only around the corner from where they got their start. Same parking, same neighborhood.... It boils down to bad lease, bad business decisions and bad management. The owners wanted to roam the restaurant and be greeters. Fine if you own a business that is making money. Saturday and Sunday success don't make a business. They got in over their head and weren't willing to make the cuts and changes to adapt. Rumor is they left town having not paid rent, taxes, unemployment insurance or the last week of wages earned by their employees. Crepes are crepes. Someone else will step up the plate and serve a better dish.

• NOO. Say it ain't so. The crepes were what crepes are supposed to be. Not sauced with gravy and heavy greasey stuffing. The food was consistently good. The owners were friendly and they tried to please everyone who walked in the door. I thought they had figured out the staffing issues after the first few months. Initially there were too many workers for over the last six months the ratio seemed right. I thought for sure they would make it but in this economy you need to be where the businesses are located. They were too far for people who work at the the big offices buildings East of Tucker to walk for lunch so most of their business seemed to be on Saturday and Sunday. Downtown doesn't need to lose anymore eateries. Whatever the cause, the more businesses that go under the fewer new entrepreneurs want to give downtown a try. Sad for the owners, sad for the workers, sad for the city, and probably sad for the loan holders. We lost Soda Fountain Square within the last month, too. It's a tough time to make a go of it in the restaurant business. Like they say, location, location, location.

• They are loooooooooong gone. Packed up their stuff, left what wouldn't fit in a trailer, fled the city, possibly the state, and most likely the country.

• Mis-managed. Over spent on the build out. Signed a lease that was over $30 a foot when the rest of Downtown rents for $5-20 a foot. Over-staffed, what did the owners do besides wander around and talk on the phone, does the crepe maker really need an assistant on Tuesday morning when no one was in the place. Seriously, staff outnumber customers 2 to 1 most days. Good food if you could get what you ordered in a timely manner. The owners had no idea how to run a business and it showed. Look beyond the Sunday brunch crowd and you will see they had no business plan and no idea how to manage a business. I feel sorry for the poor sucker that lent them the $$ to open. Good luck getting your money from them - I am sure they are long gone.

• NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

• http://twitter.com/UrbanReviewSTL/status/5066580495

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