Sudden shutdowns: Anastasi Raw Bar and Kermit's Bake Shoppe
Goodbye with little to no notice.
The owners of some food businesses see the writing on the wall, decide to close, and let customers know about it beforehand.
Not the case at two spots over the last couple of days.
Wednesday, Nov. 23, the door was locked at Manayunk's Anastasi Raw Bar (4161 Main St.). Co-owner Frank Kemp said he and partners Tommy and Mia Anastasi had planned to close after the holiday but a recent meeting with their accountant showed a poor financial picture. Employees have been offered work at Pescatore in Bala Cynwyd, a sister restaurant. Anastasi Raw Bar opened in October 2015, becoming the latest in a series of short-lived restaurants in that odd, bilevel space including Beast & Ale, Bisou, Gemelli, and MangoMoon.
I've also heard that Anastasi's Seafood, owned by the parents of Tommy and Mia, is talking about setting up at the East Passyunk location last occupied by Palladino's. That property is very much in play with a number of offers, said Bryan Fenstermaker, of Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corp., the landlord.
Friday, Nov. 25 brought a lockdown at Kermit's Bake Shoppe, at 22nd Street and Washington Avenue in South Philadelphia. At least owner Adam Ritter took to Facebook late in the morning to announce the shutdown: "We have made the difficult decision to close Kermit's. We truly appreciate your patronage over the last three years and thank you for having given us the opportunity to serve you." Billy Penn's Danya Henninger quotes a former employee as saying staff learned of the shutdown Thanksgiving night by text. Ritter also owns Sidecar Bar and Kraftwork