The Grape at SJTC closes

[thelakelander]

One of the St. Johns Town Center’s original restaurants has closed its doors.

Without notice, The Grape, a wine bar and bistro located near P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, closed this week after nearly seven years in operation.

full article: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2012-01-03/st-johns-town-center-wine-bar-and-bistro-abruptly-closes

[tufsu1]

I think the one in Tampa (at International Plaza) closed last month

[I-10east]

I remember when The Grape was featured on the Actionnews Restaurant report; I forgot the exact details of the inspection, but it wasn't good, so the staff at the Grape tried to brive Actionnews with a bottle of wine to not show the report.

[billy]

The one in Inman Park closed a while back (Usher owned it).
Not sure if the one at Phipps Plaza is still open.

[ben says]

Anyone know why it closed?

[copperfiend]

Anyone know why it closed?

Sounds like the closed most of their locations (maybe all).

[Doctor_K]

Sad, sad day.  That was one of the favorite haunts of the Doctor K household.

I really hope something of a similar nature opens in that space.

[Mueller]

The COJ needs to immediately demolish the building so that more "parking space" is made available.  Then the SJTC can work on a plan to "develop" the space in the future.   

[Doctor_K]

The COJ needs to immediately demolish the building so that more "parking space" is made available.  Then the SJTC can work on a plan to "develop" the space in the future.   

LOL.  Nice.

Or, to be even MORE like the Core, build that parking deck already!

[krischislett]

I remember when The Grape was featured on the Actionnews Restaurant report; I forgot the exact details of the inspection, but it wasn't good, so the staff at the Grape tried to brive Actionnews with a bottle of wine to not show the report.

Weird. I don't remember that, and I was General Manager of the restaurant for 7 years!
I DO however remember the PR company that was "working" with The Grape at the time (Mike White with Client Focus Media who owns and operates BUZZ Magazine) attempting to bribe the CBS47 journalist with $10,000 and a case or two of wine. He did all of this acting on his own accord. The guy is a sleazebag, what can I say.
Certainly no-one who was working at The Grape ever attempted to bribe anyone.

If you have any other questions, you can ALWAYS reach out for me directly. It certainly beats taking an uneducated guess as to what happened! 

[I-10east]

^^^Well from the perspective of Actionnews, it was a bribe attempt from The Grape staff. Is it any coincidence that the restaurant is no longer there?

[Coolyfett]

I remember when The Grape was featured on the Actionnews Restaurant report; I forgot the exact details of the inspection, but it wasn't good, so the staff at the Grape tried to brive Actionnews with a bottle of wine to not show the report.

Weird. I don't remember that, and I was General Manager of the restaurant for 7 years!
I DO however remember the PR company that was "working" with The Grape at the time (Mike White with Client Focus Media who owns and operates BUZZ Magazine) attempting to bribe the CBS47 journalist with $10,000 and a case or two of wine. He did all of this acting on his own accord. The guy is a sleazebag, what can I say.
Certainly no-one who was working at The Grape ever attempted to bribe anyone.

If you have any other questions, you can ALWAYS reach out for me directly. It certainly beats taking an uneducated guess as to what happened! 

Rick Ross "Uggh"