Pele's closing?

[Jax native]

One can only go to Orsay/13 Gypsies/Bistro Aix so many times.

....and any number of other venues.Compounded by relative "Hassle Factor/Parking"

Recently I was at The Brick with a customer for lunch. I have been patronizing the corner since Partners. At the lunch meeting attentive manager singled me out: "Don't Be A Stranger!"
I replied that what I do is,make two,maybe three Park Search passes,I will not park in the neighborhoods,as a matter of respect,honor.And on the final pass-shucks,just go home to plenty of good food and drink and nice setting,toss $75 cash in a jar.(Management nods affirmatively)
This can evolve to actually looking forward to jar deposit- it adds up quickly,and funds all sorts of outstanding venue alternative.

I so looked forward to Pele true wood fire ,but after four visits,something sputters. Perhaps it's the images of former Pharmacy Braces,Tire Store and current insipid attempts at sidewalk seating?

I sincerely wish I knew what you are saying. 

[mtraininjax]

Heard last night on the King Street strip that the new owners only kept 1 bartender, 1 member of the kitchen, 1 server and 1 chef, they fired all the others. So cleaning house, we also heard the menu will be more upscale, kind of like an Orsay, but just a bit below that, so King Street is moving up.

[InnerCityPressure]

Heard last night on the King Street strip that the new owners only kept 1 bartender, 1 member of the kitchen, 1 server and 1 chef, they fired all the others. So cleaning house, we also heard the menu will be more upscale, kind of like an Orsay, but just a bit below that, so King Street is moving up.

Re-branding, too, I assume?

[Steve]

I would like that, but curious about the staff that will pull it off. If it's the same crew from Pele's, I question their ability to pull it off. With them all the best, though.

[MusicMan]

Pele's was a small profit operation, owned by the same person who owns the Armada. Perhaps when the Armada came "on line" he decided to
invest his time in that and move on from the restaurant business. They had a steady loyal clientele. The owner never properly advertised
Pele's IMO.  Despite that they served quite a bit of food and drink. No matter what happens, the space is much improved and the neighborhood is way better off than when it was a broken old Pharmacy.

[fieldafm]

The owner never properly advertised Pele's IMO. 

They had a paid PR person, which is way more than most restaurants have.

If it's the same crew from Pele's, I question their ability to pull it off.

This has always been the problem at Pele's. There were serious staffing issues that consistently never got fixed. All the advertising in the world won't fix bad customer experiences over a long period of time.

I very much liked the food (and the occasional beer dinners).

[thekillingwax]

Hate to see anyone lose jobs but I hope they can do something a bit better. Had Pele's a few times and it never really rose above "not bad" , I think service was consistently their weakest point for me. I think V opened up and dialed in the whole rustic pizza thing better than Pele's was able to- they never seemed able to really capture the same thing they had going when it was a mobile operation. It's a very attractive space, good luck to what's next.

[tufsu1]

^ I for one very much liked Pels's over V.  The atmosphere is 100% better.  I know the style was purposeful, but V almost feels like a cafeteria.

[MusicMan]

The paid PR person was a waste of money. Better spent on Coupons in The Resident News.

and, "PR"   is not "Advertising."

How 'bout this:

The business plan, as executed by the owner, was 'half baked.'

[fieldafm]

The paid PR person was a waste of money. Better spent on Coupons in The Resident News.

and, "PR"   is not "Advertising."

How 'bout this:

The business plan, as executed by the owner, was 'half baked.'

Investors are not managers. Managers run the business. Managers did not run the business properly. The investor then pulled out. A new investor will reopen with a new concept and new management.

When your customers are consistently saying they have bad experiences, that's not an advertising problem. In fact, its the exact opposite.

[fieldafm]

^ I for one very much liked Pels's over V.  The atmosphere is 100% better.  I know the style was purposeful, but V almost feels like a cafeteria.

I agree, which is why its truly ashame that Peles has left the neighborhood.

[Tacachale]

This is a shame to see them go, but I have to agree with what others have said.

And I do like V, but I really don't understand why they built out the space the way they did. Especially considering the prices weren't any different than Peles.

[mtraininjax]

Pele's has a great atmosphere, but to me, the food was always lacking. It could have been so much more, but the menu was basically the same in all the time it had been there. Nothing new, so we went for beers and apps and went elsewhere for more. I hope someone can do more with the space, cause it can and should cater to a bit higher crowd the way its done inside.

[TheCat]

It seems they doubled downed on mediocrity.

[skazooz]

Hate to see anyone lose jobs but I hope they can do something a bit better. Had Pele's a few times and it never really rose above "not bad" , I think service was consistently their weakest point for me. I think V opened up and dialed in the whole rustic pizza thing better than Pele's was able to- they never seemed able to really capture the same thing they had going when it was a mobile operation. It's a very attractive space, good luck to what's next.

Huh, I have the exact opposite opinion regarding V, the next good pizza I have from them will be the first. I've eaten there 4 times now for dinner, and every time the pizza comes out soggy, and the crust is undercooked. I would have written them off after the second time, but Sidecar keeps me coming in the door. Pie vs Pie I much preferred Pele's (specifically The Vegas), their pizza came out with a firmer crust, better leoparding, and better crumb. Also, their salads, who seriously wants to eat a pre-made salad served at 34F?

I will concede that Pele's service was spotty and that their non-pizza dishes were hit or miss (more miss than hit once the first head chef left). I will also add to one, they didn't turn their tap lines quick enough and/or they needed to clean their lines more often. That said, my wife and I will greatly miss their pizza and will be searching high and low for a good substitute (and no one better say Carmine's or Al's).