Chicagoist: Quick Bites

the new guest number 2

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:41:38 -0600

I'm someone who has had the unfortunate experience of closing a restaurant and putting people out of work. I did "the right thing" and gave everyone a weeks notice. Fast forward 7 days -- I had to cancel all the reservations and could only offer food service at the bar (with me behind it) because all I had left was the sous chef and one line cook. Everyone else had bailed, and not one bothered to inform me they weren't coming in. People in the bar/restaurant industry aren't exactly the most loyal of employees, so you shouldn't judge Ms. Sharpe without knowing the facts.

technically_nina

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:16:55 -0600

I miss Half & Half too, but I won't be visiting any of Debbie Sharpe's other businesses. On the Friday that Half & Half closed, I found her employees standing outside looking just as surprised as I was that she had closed shop so suddenly. When I asked them about it I learned that they hadn't even been informed that the store was closing themselves. That is an indicator of a shitty boss and business owner. She knew that she would be closing her store on that day, and she could have at least informed her employees that they needed to look for a new job. I did want to check out Feast, but you can bet I won't be going now.

kookybites

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:01:40 -0600

how much competition do you think they got from the new milk & honey across the street? Great point.

Chuck Sudo

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 11:10:09 -0600

Damn straight on Tecalitlan. They're the certified dark horse in this competition.

Tankboy

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:03:15 -0600

Veloz is tasty, but Tecalitlan shall be the wrap that rules them all!

Rachelle Bowden

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:24:07 -0600

my cubemate says that half & half has a sign in the window that says "coming soon: goddess breakfast" or something like that.. like making it seem that the same people will be reopening in the same space. also, how much competition do you think they got from the new milk & honey across the street?

Editor at Large

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:14:20 -0600

Funny that they use the high school cafeteria metaphor: like my high school's cafeteria, Avec is ear-piercingly loud, the exact opposite of intimate, and you will be seated shoulder-to-shouder with strangers trying to talk over the noise, people you may or may not know, again much like a, well, a high school cafeteria. Too bad the food is so damn good, else I'd be forced to, you know, dislike it..

Shannon

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:08:50 -0600

like Clarissa?

Laura Oppenheimer

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 09:05:31 -0600

Yep - that's correct. She owns all three. The Metromix post I linked to explains it all...

Stephen

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:25:11 -0600

Boooo Dunkin Donuts... I'll miss Half and Half... it's interesting to see that Feast will carry their breakfast sandwiches. I believe that in addition to Goddess & Grocer, Debbie Sharpe also owns Feast. So that's the connection.

kookybites

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:52:02 -0600

Boooo Dunkin Donuts... I'll miss Half and Half... it's interesting to see that Feast will carry their breakfast sandwiches.