If recent White Plains restaurant activity is any indicator of the recession, one thing is certain ”“ nothing is static.
One downtown restaurant has filed for Chapter 11 and another closes. Argentinean and Italian hotspot Tango Grill on East Post Road in downtown White Plains filed for bankruptcy protection on July 2, which permits reorganization. Attorney Jeffrey Reich of Reich Reich & Reich P.C. in White Plains confirmed Hector Avila is still chef and owner of the operation, but had no further comment. Tango Grill opened in October 2004 and garnered immediate culinary praise. It had one to 49 estimated creditors, $500,001 to $1 million in estimated assets and $1 million to $10 million in estimated liabilities at the time of filing.
Bankruptcy attorney Anne Penachio of Penachio Malara L.L.P. in White Plains, who has witnessed area activity since 1991, said bankruptcy does offer a viable option for restaurant owners to bring in new equity, but that “in many cases, it”™s a Band-Aid.” Penachio said downtown White Plains apartment dwellers “like to go out to eat” and that “when there are empty apartments in the downtown area, office building vacancies and increased taxes, this is a major factor in some restaurants”™ inability to make it.”
Via Quadronno, an upscale Italian eatery at Main Street and Renaissance Square, which co-owners Louis Cappelli and Lou Ceruzzi opened last year, closed over the Fourth of July weekend.
It will be replaced within three weeks by another Italian trattoria, which will operate under new management. Its name was undisclosed.
“This street level location in the historic Bar Building quickly proved to be very successful,” Cappelli said in a statement. “But Via Quadronno”™s price points were relatively high and, as a result, its volume was affected by the recession. After speaking with our customers, we decided to adjust both the venue and the approach to better match the price point needs with today”™s cost-conscious dining patrons. We look forward to the venue becoming Westchester”™s newest dining hot spot.”
Paul Garbuio, manager and owner of Café Antico in Mount Kisco for 12 years, will be the new manager.
Via Quadronno operated under restaurant group VQ Global, which runs eight locations including a soon-to-open spot in Manhattan”™s Tribeca district.
