In the Know: 3 local eateries shutter ahead of Irma

Hurricane Irma’s immediate impact on local restaurants will undoubtedly have a longtime effect here.

These businesses, especially small mom-and-pops without a full bar to supplement revenue with alcohol’s greater markup percentage, already operate with a slim profit margin. A disaster such as Irma will make a difference to their bottom line and possibly their future operation.

Many restaurateurs couldn’t open for more than a week because they were without power for days or, if they had power, they lacked employees, who had evacuated town ahead of the storm.

Atop the lack of refrigeration resulting in the loss of food, Collier County’s boil water notice and water conservation measures have had a prolonged effect on the operation of restaurants because of the necessary food preparation safety measures, possible contamination of beverages and a lack of ice.

Of course, restaurateurs still have to contend with wind or flood damage at their homes and restaurants, as do their customers. Less foot traffic is understandable because if patrons didn’t temporarily leave town, they just haven’t been as mobile — they were barricaded or busy and making fewer trips to conserve precious gasoline.

A nightly curfew that extended more than a week also forced restaurants and other businesses to close early each day so that employees and customers could be home by 9 p.m. The aftermath of Irma has presented a multipronged whammy, even if it is a customarily slow September.

A tip of the toque to the many local restaurant owners and caterers who graciously prepared free food to help feed folks who have not had an opportunity for many warm meals lately. These gestures and special events have been greatly appreciated and a welcomed surprise for the community.

Unfortunately, though, it’s predictable that setbacks caused by Irma will be enough to make or break many local restaurants over the coming months. Many others still in the pipeline for the new season could see construction setbacks that delay their start and prevent them from coming out of the gate as strongly as they might have.

It’s going to still take some time before we reach a noticeable degree of normalcy.

Now closed

A few eateries such as The Dock, Cracklin’ Jacks and Pinchers Crab Shack at Tin CIty will be temporarily closed for many weeks to repair Irma’s damage, but the recent closure of a trio of local restaurants had nothing to do with the hurricane.

Charlie’s seafood, La Bazenne and Sakura Hawaiian Grill all permanently closed ahead of the storm.

Charlie’s

Charlie's Clams, Crabs & Seafood closed in mid-August after operating only since early March in Piper’s Crossing retail center off Immokalee Road in North Naples.

The local seafood restaurant didn’t catch on during the short season in the former space of Cider Press Cafe at 1201 Piper Blvd. Restaurateur Frank Pollara could not be reached for comment.

Don’t expect the turnkey endcap space to be vacant for long.

“We have numerous restaurants wanting to go in there,” said Jack Crifasi, manager of Piper’s Crossing. “I fully anticipate it to be leased out in the next 30 days.”

At least four or five restaurateurs — some prominent local operators representing a variety of cuisines — are interested in leasing the fully operational eatery, Crifasi said.

La Bazenne

La Bazenne on Fifth closed in early August after operating for more than three years in downtown Naples.

Co-owners Amy and Romuald Giacometti opened the French restaurant in April 2014 to replicate the home-away-from-home experience of neighborhood cafes and restaurants in France. Giacometti’s parents launched the original La Bazenne more than 40 years ago on Ile de Re, a tiny island in western France.

The Giacomettis could not be reached for comment regarding the closing of their restaurant on Fifth Avenue South.

La Bazenne combined the adjacent spaces of two former eateries: Uncle Louie G's Italian Ices & Ice Cream and La Villa on 5th pizzeria, bakery and cafe. The future of the restaurant space is unknown.

Public records show the business is owned by 474 5th Avenue S LLC, managed by South Beach restaurateur Stefano Frittella, who also is a partner in four other restaurants on Fifth Avenue South: Bice Ristorante, Caffe Milano, Vergina and The Kitchen, set to open this fall. Frittella could not be reached for comment.

Sakura Hawaiian Grill

Sakura Hawaiian Grill closed in early September after operating for more than two years in Meridian Marketplace on the northeast corner of Pine Ridge and Livingston roads in North Naples.

Passionate chef-owner Paul Chen launched Sakura Asian Grill in May 2015 before eventually changing the restaurant’s name to highlight the authentic Hawaiian cuisine that set it apart. The small mom-and-pop restaurant with a cool and relaxing décor and Hawaiian comfort food had its followers but just not enough to sustain the lunch-dinner eatery.

“We just didn’t make it,” Chen said.

For the latest in local restaurants coming and going, see Tim Aten’s “In the Know” columns archived at naplesnews.com/intheknow, and on Facebook at facebook.com/timaten.intheknow.