Jerry Moran Might Be Exiting the City Core

[ronchamblin]

Admittedly Jerry is a little misanthropic, perhaps a little too often, and is somewhat hard on the homeless, but his place provides a unique quality to the restaurant choices in the city core, providing a quiet and special place for an excellent dinner, and with pleasant music.   

Perhaps he might see everyone’s posts, digest the comments, and change things so that fewer of the negative comments will be appropriate in the future.  If change does occur, then perhaps there is a little hope for those who have expressed their negative experiences at La Cena, or about his behavior. 

And too, perhaps Jerry is doing better than we think, that he is satisfied with how he presents himself to his customers, and to the local homeless element.  The question is whether or not there will be enough customers in the future who like his locale, ambience, and prices.  As for food quality, I suspect that it is excellent 98% of the time.

In any case, I hope things work through so that we do not lose a good restaurant right in the middle of our city core.  Any exit from the core is a negative for the downtown.  We certainly don’t want to lose businesses, and regress back to the desolation on the Laura Street of a few years ago.     

   
   

[Parag Adhyaru]

Ron,

I'm really sorry to hear about the recent vandalism. When I was in town a few weeks ago it really felt great to visit both bookstores and to see and hear how well you're doing. You run your business in a way that makes me happy to be a patron.

Regarding some of the other comments. It is interesting that someone can write "his posts here have made it quite clear that he's a terrible human being" without relying on personal experience. I'd be willing to guess that the other gentleman who called Jerry an "inhumane jerk" probably isn't speaking from personal experience either. The first consideration is that Jerry Moran has successfully run upscale restaurants for years. As Stephen Dare can certainly attest to - running a restaurant is a difficult work. Jerry has obviously poured a lot of hard work into making La Cena successful in downtown Jacksonville. We all react differently to various situations but doesn't it make sense that Jerry would take things personally? Isn't that a very human thing to feel? Would Jerry have been able to survive if he weren't such a fighter? He fights for himself and I have also personally known him to fight for other people in ways that many of his critics would likely find admirable. Nobody's perfect but Jerry Moran is a good man.

I have also eaten many meals at La Cena and each was consistently excellent. It has been far too long since I have last been able to visit. It isn't cheap but what worthwhile upscale restaurant is? It is better to eat out once a month and have a great meal at La Cena than eat restaurant food of lesser quality more frequently. In fact I am salivating just thinking about that beautiful Trenette with smoked trout.

Sincerely,
Parag

[ben says]

In any case, I hope things work through so that we do not lose a good restaurant right in the middle of our city core.  Any exit from the core is a negative for the downtown.  We certainly don’t want to lose businesses, and regress back to the desolation on the Laura Street of a few years ago.     

Couldn't agree more

I'd be willing to guess that the other gentleman who called Jerry an "inhumane jerk" probably isn't speaking from personal experience either.

I was speaking from personal experience...but that's neither here nor there. Not to mention: what he says on MetroJax is a representation of him, nothing more nothing less. It's normal for people to see what he writes and comes to the conclusions they do.

[ben says]

I cant decide if its making him miserable or keeping an active mind engaged, but maybe san marco would be greatly improved by a quality italian restaurant.

Good point 

[RockStar]

It is better to eat out once a month and have a great meal at La Cena than eat restaurant food of lesser quality more frequently.

That's not really how it works. You can have a guest once a month for a $100 (plus grat) dinner (special night out) or 3 or 4 times a month @ $50. It's better to have frequency of visit than a once a month fleecing.

I'd also offer delivery service to the downtown apartments/condos...not sure if he does that.

[Parag Adhyaru]

Stephen,

Jerry has certainly made his strong opinions on the homeless into his public persona. What is less of a matter of public record are the things you say below. I am not seeking to glorify Jerry or his positions, just to simply say that the man is more dynamic than many people think.

In most respects he is a good mensch and the kind of guy who would take a bullet for his friends.

I would vouch for him on any of the good things, like hard work, industriousness, character, intelligence, humor, and integrity.

My view is that clearly private property rights need to be protected while not trampling the natural rights that every person has. If someone, homeless or not, vandalizes property then they should be prosecuted. In the process there should be enough time to determine if someone is suffering mental illness or if they're just a vandal. As Bill Hoff wrote earlier in this thread, it is a complex issue, and I won't pretend to understand all the facets.  Still, some people do earn jail time and others need help. The first part of that should be easy, but the second part is far easier to say than to do.

Regarding RockStar's comments: It is subjective but at this point in my life I would rather not insult my own ability to cook which is how I would feel if I had to make a choice between more restaurant experiences versus fewer with quality being the trade off. I'm very tightfisted with my money and I don't feel fleeced when I spend money at La Cena because so much is made in house.

And if we're talking about delivery - I'd rather that the upscale restaurants not do this. After all isn't the point to increase the activity downtown? Plenty of pizza places deliver.

Sincerely,
Parag

[thelakelander]

Tell him to open a 200 seat restaurant in Avondale and enjoy the fireworks.

[cline]

^Monty's La Cena?

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

Tell him to open a 200 seat restaurant in Avondale and enjoy the fireworks.

i have so much love for this.

[PeeJayEss]

I've heard the food is amazing, but that's all I've heard.  My parents have eaten there a couple times, but it's not a place they even bring up as an option.  At some point you need to grow or change your business to keep up with times.  I heard a horror story that happened to another family at his restaurant, the function of the restaurant/staff.  No need to call it out, but at some point for those who have even heard of the restaurant in the first place the stories add up and overshadow the quality of the food.

IMO, Jerry gets in the way of his own success downtown.

He fights ArtWalk, instead of embracing it. In doing this alienates the 20, 30, 40 somethings that have never heard of his restaurant but are right outside his door. Meanwhile, every other vendor is packed. Can't put together an ArtWalk special? Come on, man.

His food is highly regarded, but the portions and the price are enormous and the rules that surround his menu are bizarre ($18 split plate charge? Enjoy that app as an entree? $11 up charge.).

I want to eat there more often, but I don't need a chicken parm the size of my plate and I can't share it with my wife without it costing $40.

Reasonable sized portions, reasonable pricing and maybe put an iPod playlist together (that one CD got old on my last visit...over and over and over...). I'd be there every week.

As for the homeless, I didn't realize we had a problem... 

Ok, wow.  If this were a review of the restaurant on UrbanSpoon or Yelp or Gayot, I would avoid it like the plague.

If this was a review on Yelp they would say their "filter" would find this review to be a questionable review and it would be removed most of the time.

Actually, RockStar's assessment is spot on. I would say I don't get the point of your post here, but that's assuming you are trying to make a point, and I don't want to assume.

Ron, don't you talk about how Magnificat does not adequately use the space they have? How is La Cena any different? They're open five days a week for dinner only. As RockStar illustrates above, his approach to the costumer is horrible. The food is decent, but certainly not worth the money or menu idiocy that you have to deal with. Forget about Jerry Moran as a person, La Cena is a decent restaurant masquerading as a magnificent restaurant. I'm all for businesses downtown, particularly yours Ron, but I have no problem seeing this one go. Someday, something better may go in there. Its an incredibly cool space in a fantastic location.

If he did actually exploit the ArtWalk crowd, and tried to attract people to the space to spend money instead of striving for 'exclusivity' or whatever his aim, he'd be too busy counting his money to notice any homeless downtown.

[ronchamblin]

Looks like many of the bases have been covered regarding Jerry and La Cena.  Although I’ve not seen Jerry since the start of this thread, I’m sure he’s read the posts.  And what a goldmine of feedback for Jerry.

Starting my business alone and without experience caused me to listen closely to customer feedback, and when time and resources allowed, would act upon it.  Of course there were times when feedback was appreciated but impossible to accommodate simply because the customers were ignorant about certain dynamics of the business.

Inaction by a business owner, in spite of overwhelming advice and well-meaning feedback, is an interesting condition which can only frustrate those who seem convinced of its quality.  I suspect that any refusal to digest and accommodate what appears to be good feedback, would be the result of a strong or stubborn personality, or perhaps a condition wherein the business owner knows something not available to those offering the feedback.



 

[Adam W]

Charging lots of money to split an entree with someone or to have a starter as a main has nothing to do with the quality of the food or with the food being made in-house.

[John P]

I have always enjoyed La cena. Jerry is a great host and the food is very good. Lunch would be welcomed.

[ssky]

I am disappointed at how quickly Ron's post has turned into the character assassination of a man who has, for more than 10 years, successfully survived downtown's Urban Core (UC), and has fought diligently to improve it. La Cena is not only one of Jacksonville's best restaurants, but also a beacon of hope for entrepreneurs considering opening up shop in the UC.

Perhaps what many of you fail to realize is that Chef Moran (Jerry) has been a renowned restaurateur since 1983. That is nearly 30 years of documented success in an industry well-known for failure.

Another fact that may have escaped you is that throughout the decade Jerry has operated his restaurant on Laura Street, he has simultaneously contributed his time, energy and expertise to the City of Jacksonville, serving in such roles as:

•   Chairman of the Sheriff's Advisory Council
•   Member, Hemming Park Ad Hoc Committee
•   Member, Pioneers for JAX

Maybe those of you who believe that Jerry is: "a inhumane jerk [sic],” "a terrible human being," and one who lacks compassion and understanding for society’s less fortunate should know that he has made a career-long practice of offering opportunity, employment and mentorship to people of every background including:

•   A gentleman with Asperger’s Syndrome who worked at La Cena for 11 years;
•   An indigent youth who ran into the kitchen of Jerry's Southside restaurant one evening seeking shelter from gang violence and spent the next eight years working his way up from dishwasher to pantry cook to dining room server;
•   A Vietnam Veteran suffering from PTSD who spent two years working at La Cena as a dishwasher before retiring on permanent disability.

Most notably, when his valued colleague of 27 years, Vicki Torres, was diagnosed with breast cancer, Jerry spared no expense in maintaining her health insurance coverage. He also provided her with much-needed support and encouragement throughout her therapy and recovery.

His commitment to his staff, customers and family is unwavering. When employees need transportation at the end of a shift, he is the one who drives them home. When customers feel uncertain navigating the UC's dark streets on foot after dinner, Jerry is the one who escorts them to their cars or drives them back to their hotels. And on the two days a week when La Cena is closed, he travels to Bradfor County to visit and care for his 92-year-old mother.

Jerry endorses local government; he supports philanthropic efforts; and, some of Jacksonville's most renowned chefs, like Tom Grey of Bistro AIX, have honed their skills in his kitchen before striking out on their own.



So, this is really a man you wish to mock and malign?

For God’s sake! This is his life's blood, his passion, his career and his reputation. He chooses to voice his opinions, no matter how controversial, in the hope that Jacksonville will eventually become a better, safer, and more vital metropolis. He stands behind his beliefs; he keeps his word; and he puts his money where his mouth is 100% of the time.

However, over the past ten years, he has endured repeated occurrences of vandalism and violenceâ€"many of which have taken place in the dark and deserted hours of late night or early morning. Thus, it should come as no surprise that he has literally begged for more police and governmental action to clean up the UC. He is, after all, a highly-trained CIA chef and an entrepreneur, not a one-man Justice League. I am certain that he would much rather spend his time cooking for his guests than acting as a security guard.

I just wonder how this has eluded the majority of posters on this thread.

I suggest that instead of smugly preaching, proselytizing and prognosticating from the sacred pulpits of your keyboard, you try facing some of the very angry, disturbed and dangerous people who wander in and around La Cena. How long do you think your self-righteous altruism would prevail before you realized that the big stick in that poor, unfortunate man’s hand was aimed directly at your head, and he was not in the mood for tea and sympathy?

The difference between the pictures you paint of a misanthropic cretin who terrorizes the homeless and the reality of what Jerry faces from the moment he opens his doors for business each evening is the difference between day and night.

Maybe it’s time that you put down the stones you cast so freely, come out of your pretty little stained glass houses, and try walking a mile in Jerry Moran’s shoes…or better yet, try working for one 18-hour day in those shoes…deep in the heart of Jacksonville's beloved, albeit underserved, Urban Core.

P.S.  Since joining the MetroJacksonville Forum, I have read most all of Jerry's posts, though it appears he stopped writing in late 2010.  I find them to be  brilliant, to the point, and often wryly humorous.

“A leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets tough.” Ronald Reagan

[Adam W]

Well, you know what they say - opinions are like assholes.