does anyone know what is going in the old casablanca space?

[ashmead]

On my morning jog i noticed demolition going on at the old Casablance hair salon on St Johns Avenue.  I was very surprised to see the space is now completely gutted to just the brick walls..  Does anyone know what this will be?

[The Compound]

I saw that too. At least there is action there, thats better than sitting vacant. Hopefully something good goes in.

[undergroundgourmet]

It is going to be a restaurant. Owned by Benham Howard but run by Karen and John owners of 11 south.
Uptown Bistro...unless they change it before the paint is dry.

[blizz01]

I saw drawings for this space a few months ago when the project was up for bid - It seems like it was actually two places in one - also Emly Benham Shoe Boutique.

[mtraininjax]

Restaurant? Frank from Sterlings will love that. He though the Brick would steal all his parking when they applied for a license. Wonder what he'll do this time around. Parking should get very interesting in Avondale, especially after they start the new sidewalk project next January.

[ChriswUfGator]

Restaurant? Frank from Sterlings will love that. He though the Brick would steal all his parking when they applied for a license. Wonder what he'll do this time around. Parking should get very interesting in Avondale, especially after they start the new sidewalk project next January.

Frank Gallo owns the large parking lot right adjacent to Sterlings. In fact it's the only private parking lot on the entire strip. He already has his own parking, which is more than sufficient to handle his restaurant's traffic. So I don't see why he would care about the Brick or this new restaurant affecting his parking, when he already owns his own private lot. What's the difference to him?

[mtraininjax]

Chris - You don't know Frank. He raised heck up and down the city planning office and RAP, because he enjoyed Partners (when no one went there). No one parks there in his restaurant as it is. He owned the space to the right of the Preservation & Tap House, and used to have cars towed from his " building ", he is a major tool and the area does not need him interfering in business development.

[ChriswUfGator]

Chris - You don't know Frank. He raised heck up and down the city planning office and RAP, because he enjoyed Partners (when no one went there). No one parks there in his restaurant as it is. He owned the space to the right of the Preservation & Tap House, and used to have cars towed from his " building ", he is a major tool and the area does not need him interfering in business development.

With all due respect, I do in fact know frank. I consider him a friend, not to mention a nice guy. I'm not sure what your problem with him is, but I would encourage you to give him a call. Maybe it's time to clear the air. Seems like there is a set of people who hold him accountable for things they heard-from-a-friend-who-heard-from-a-friend that he did......10 years ago.

He's really a nice guy, and he won't bite. I promise. Go talk to him. He has done a lot for our local restaurant scene (Sterlings, Fatty Tuna, Bistro 17), he originally salvaged the historic Seminole Club downtown, and he owns the 1171 building and helped them get off the ground.

With the Preservation Chophouse thing, that the building next door (which is really just a converted house) was a law firm at that time, and the lawyer who had the place didn't want people taking up their parking during business hours. Frank had nothing to do with that!

And Frank lives with his new partner virtually full time in Chicago now. He really doesn't give a $h!t about Casablanca's parking, I promise you.

[mtraininjax]

didn't want people taking up their parking during business hours.

Sadly you were mis-informed, I can personally say I saw on a number of occasions AFTER HOURS, and ON WEEKENDS, when tow trucks were called to pull cars from the pavement.

Frank's ambitions and ego always seem to get the best of him, I've lived in Avondale for 10+ years and I can tell you he is a two-faced person, what you see is not what you get. I've seen his pettyness first hand, and mark my words, we will all see Frank and his pettyness again real soon.

[ChriswUfGator]

didn't want people taking up their parking during business hours.

Sadly you were mis-informed, I can personally say I saw on a number of occasions AFTER HOURS, and ON WEEKENDS, when tow trucks were called to pull cars from the pavement.

Frank's ambitions and ego always seem to get the best of him, I've lived in Avondale for 10+ years and I can tell you he is a two-faced person, what you see is not what you get. I've seen his pettyness first hand, and mark my words, we will all see Frank and his pettyness again real soon.

Well alright mtrain, I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I've just never seen this 'evil' side of him that you're convinced exists. During the time I've spent with him, he's never been anything other than a complete gentleman. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that we're even talking about the same person.

[mtraininjax]

You should get out and speak with some of the folks from RAP who can tell you some stories about Frank. I had my car personally towed on a Saturday night from his lot next to P&TH. So much for neighborly friendship.

How is frank's piano bar going upstairs at Sterlings? He had wanted to open up a Jazz bar up there, then it folded, without any advertising on his part.

People do change, but I've seen so many issues with Frank, I'll reserve judgement, but I saw how he acted when Steve opened the Brick.

[Dog Walker]

I have personal knowledge that Frank had nothing to do with cars being towed from around the Preservation Chop House.  People were parking on the little stub end of Riverside Ave. that intersects St. John's right there rather than park across the street in the commercial lot.  There was not enough parking at the Chop House's location and people driveways were being blocked and their yards were getting ruts in them.

The residents and, during the day, the law firm across the street were responsible for calling the tow trucks.

[ChriswUfGator]

You should get out and speak with some of the folks from RAP who can tell you some stories about Frank. I had my car personally towed on a Saturday night from his lot next to P&TH. So much for neighborly friendship.

How is frank's piano bar going upstairs at Sterlings? He had wanted to open up a Jazz bar up there, then it folded, without any advertising on his part.

People do change, but I've seen so many issues with Frank, I'll reserve judgement, but I saw how he acted when Steve opened the Brick.

Mtrain, I promise you Frank had nothing to do with your car (or any other for that matter) being towed away. Your car may have been towed, but it sure wasn't because of him. It was that law firm, not Frank. I was eating in Preservation for an early dinner and this lawyer from next door came in, asked to see the manager, and started bitching about people parking in her lot and said she was going to have them towed. Other people I know witnessed the same thing on different nights. It really had nothing to do with Frank. I've told you this twice already, and I really don't know what else to say.

As to his piano bar, he's scrapped that and is going to do a complete renovation and change the whole format of the restaurant. The chef who originally ran Sterlings back in the 1990's is returning, and Frank told me they're going to make it into a high-end seafood place with a separate bar/lounge area. Some of their ideas really sound neat, and I think the finished result will be impressive. But if you appreciate Sterling's the way it is, you should probably go get your fix now, before the changes start.

As to RAP, I'm not sure exactly what went down between them way back when, but I'm sure he has his own side to that story. Honestly, everybody I've ever heard badmouth Frank is kvetching about silly BS that happened 20 years ago. Time marches on! And I can vouch firsthand that he really is a nice guy, and that AFAIK you're mistaken about him towing your car. Relax, and give him a chance.

[undergroundgourmet]

ah...I knew when I let the cat out of the bag it was going to focus on Frank and his antics. CWW-UF It doesn't go back that far (Biscottis had 2 years in court within the last 5 years). But on the other side, all businesses (including Frank- his interest being the building on the right side) around Preservation called the tow trucks. Daytime, early evening and then the late night.
I can not wait for the new place just like I can not wait for Richard Grenamyer to come back to the strip (Sterlings). His menu will be awesome. But lots of hurdles for that to happen just hope it does.

[ChriswUfGator]

ah...I knew when I let the cat out of the bag it was going to focus on Frank and his antics. CWW-UF It doesn't go back that far (Biscottis had 2 years in court within the last 5 years). But on the other side, all businesses (including Frank- his interest being the building on the right side) around Preservation called the tow trucks. Daytime, early evening and then the late night.
I can not wait for the new place just like I can not wait for Richard Grenamyer to come back to the strip (Sterlings). His menu will be awesome. But lots of hurdles for that to happen just hope it does.

He leased that little house (and all the parking) to a law firm. They were the ones who called tow trucks, not Frank.