Wolfgang Puck’s Grand Cafe at Maple Avenue and Church Street shut down its operation suddenly today.
Signs posted in the restaurant window said that “due to rising operating costs we are no longer able to offer the quality and price value our customers deserve.”
The restaurant has anchored a corner of the Church Street Plaza complex for nearly seven years.
A sign urged patrons with gift certificates to call 847-8699653 or email giftcertificateinfo@gmail.com for information on receiving refunds.
This evening, with the signs still lit outside the darkened restaurant, patrons heading to the nearby theater complex expressed dismay as the saw the notices indicating the restaurant had closed.
Not surprised
I’m not surprised to see it go. In the last couple of years Puck’s’ has had spotty service and hit-or-miss food. I have stopped eating there after 3 times in a row (within a course of several months) at least one person at our table had horriblely prepared food.
I, too, am not surprised
I, too, am not surprised about the closing. Although it is a “premier” location for a restaraunt, I thought the food and whole ambience was average at best.
This gives someone the opportunity to open a really nice restaraunt that could be successful.
Another empty commercial space
Regardless of how you felt about the food or service of Wolfgang Puck, this restaurant had a great atmosphere and one of the best outdoor patios in the city. It also was one of the few (gasp) full service bars in the downtown area.
It’s a shame that this highly visible and busy corner will be empty now. Hopefully the broker can attract a new restaurant to lease the space quickly, or else we can just add this location to the growing list of dead retail. (Old Borders, Old Barnes and Noble, etc.)
Restaurant was a disappointment
Yes, this Pucks has been just horrible for a number of years now. I am not suprised. Hopefully a non-chain will move into that spot now.
Empty commercial space
Bemoaning the existence of one empty store front is hardly worth the time for concern. It wasn’t that long ago that at one point there were 24 empty retail spaces downtown. There were also no driving problems and not near the number of assaults and robberies of students or citizens. Progress has brought us all these problems.
John Thomson