The Lark Street restaurant shuffle
For sale. Hopefully not for long.
Updated Thursday night
The Lark Street restaurant scene is changing up again with a few closings, some openings, new menus and a place for sale.
Townsend Park Bakery for sale
Townsend Park Bakery first opened in 2008 (on Washington Ave, across from... Townsend Park), selling sourdough bread and pizza baked in an Adirondack blue-stone oven. Then it closed for a while, reopened with a liquor license this year and, as Paula mentioned last night, has now closed again.
Owner Mark Smith says the business is for sale, but he wants to be sure to sell it to the right person. Smith founded Antica Enoteca and sold it to chef Kevin Everleth, who successfully turned it into one of our favorite local restaurants, The Wine Bar and Bistro on Lark. Here's hoping Smith can do it again.
Tandoor Palace closes, Lark Street Pub opens
One of the many Indian restaurants in the Lark Street neighborhood, Tandoor Palace, isn't an Indian restaurant anymore. Tandoor closed briefly over the summer, then reopened. As Paula and Wert mentioned last night, it's now been flipped to the The Lark Street Pub. Steve reports the ownership is the same.
Taste of Greece meets Al-Baraki
Taste of Greece has finally closed its doors. The business was for sale for several months. But anyone craving a gyro can go a few doors down -- to the old Al-Baraki space (185 Lark) -- where Gyro Station is opening next week. The owner, Ufuk Dalli, worked in the kitchen at Taste of Greece, so expect some things to taste the same. They'll be doing gyros, falafel and salads.
Update: Steve has details on a new coffee shop that just opened near Bombers.
(Thanks, Jennifer)
The Wine Bar and Bistro on Lark advertises on AOA.
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Comments
Sad news about TPB. Was there a couple weeks ago and had great food. Atmosphere was top notch. Sad to see it empty. Ironically I planned to eat there last night and it was shuttered. A real shame.
... said daleyplanit on Nov 4, 2010 at 1:54 PM | link
Noooooo! Townsend Park Bakery pizza was soooooooo good! This would explain why they were closed last night. A couple days too late :(
... said Jen on Nov 4, 2010 at 2:00 PM | link
Aww shucks. Thanks AOA for the skinny! I will have to find a new place to drown my breadsnob sorrows.
... said Jennifer on Nov 4, 2010 at 2:46 PM | link
On election night I was at the Spring Street area of Lark and also noticed that JG's and Romeo's pizza looked dark. Does anyone know what happened to them- or are they just closed on Tuesdays?
... said Summer on Nov 4, 2010 at 3:10 PM | link
Summer, for what it's worth, JG's (my favorite pizza on Lark) has a For Sale sign in the window.
... said Alex on Nov 4, 2010 at 4:31 PM | link
Also, a new coffee shop next to Bombers in the space formerly occupied by Igor's consignment shop:
http://blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping/18681/coffee-shop-opens-in-former-lark-street-tearoom/
... said jess on Nov 4, 2010 at 4:33 PM | link
bummer about the bakery.
... said Jackers on Nov 4, 2010 at 4:38 PM | link
@Summer Yeah, JG's is closed. As far as I know it hasn't been sold, but it's been closed for sometime.
... said kater on Nov 4, 2010 at 5:31 PM | link
I know it is a shameless thing but some of us could use some help finding good work after these closings. So if your out there and know of something throw a line.
... said Joshua on Nov 4, 2010 at 6:06 PM | link
A little soapbox:
When I used to live downtown, we would debate and debate at neighborhood meetings about granting liquor licenses. They stay at the locale, not with the owner. With Tandoor Palace I really remember lots of debate in the HPNA, ultimately deciding that some wine and beer would not result in just a bar. And now a few years later, its just another bar.
When Mark, who I am a fan of, bought the bakery and wanted the license, the same question popped up in my mind. After watching his evolution of the wine bar, I had little faith in the bakery lasting.
Here are now two more bars in an area that already is pretty saturated. I worry about the character of the neighborhood changing... but I guess that is one of the special features of Center Square.
... said mel on Nov 5, 2010 at 9:53 AM | link
I love how Jess is still up on the Lark Street haps even though she's 800 miles away.
... said B on Nov 5, 2010 at 10:26 AM | link
@B: Jess' awesomeness knows no geographic boundaries.
... said Greg on Nov 5, 2010 at 10:54 AM | link
Does anyone have contact info for Mark Smith??
... said Kim on Nov 5, 2010 at 10:54 AM | link
Townsend Park Bakery was open at 6 p.m. tonight... so I'm sure you can find Mark there!
... said Melissa on Nov 5, 2010 at 10:27 PM | link
That's a shame--it was a nice place with great pizza and great home baked bread! I hope it lives on.
... said too bad on Nov 6, 2010 at 11:50 AM | link
yesterday afternoon a friend and i were simultaneously craving a hot tea and hot chocolate. we decided to FORGO more than one already established favorite coffee place in the immediate area to try out the new "caffé vero" on lark street. when we walked in we were instantly pleased at the size and atmosphere of the place -- very roomy with lots of tables/chairs up front seemingly inviting one to sit and stay awhile, chat with friends, bring a book to read or work to do and just linger as long as you'd like (think uncommon grounds or ultraviolet, here). wow, just what this neighborhood is missing and would really embrace in a huge way! this place has the potential to be a huge success.
now try to imagine an uncommon grounds or UV cafe that does NOT: have a public bathroom or accept credit cards. after inquiring about both and saying with blatant shock/disgust/disbelief to the owner/manager(?) "really?? no bathroom? and this is a place where you expect people to spend time, hang out for a while or be able to sit and do work?" SEE YA! i walked out without spending a single cent, then promptly took myself to aforementioned favorite coffee place in the area. where i sat and did work for a while. and was able to use a frigging toilet.
we already have places for grab-and-go coffee on this street (daily grind, dunkin donuts, crisan), which is all this place will ever be without certain amenities that make it something other than that -- something more like those places we have to drive to get to at the moment. it was obvious from the attitude we were given that they'd already been asked about these things a number of times from customers. i'd be very surprised if they don't move to make some changes asap. and if not, it will likely remain the way it's been the three times i've been past since my experience yesterday: lots of empty tables and chairs looking out onto the street.
... said Kim D. on Nov 7, 2010 at 6:03 AM | link
Walking by this place the other day, I noticed they seem to have scrapped the "bar food" menu and now once again have an Indian menu. A lunch buffet was also advertised.
... said Wert on Feb 14, 2011 at 12:40 PM | link