BiteClub is among a host of folks confounded over why GG’s Earth and Surf has been closed with an enigmatic sign on the door for several days.
In late May, owner Suzan Fleissner sent me a personal email discussing her plans to expand, which I shared with you. Apparently others in the community got the same email.
Not long after the lights went dim in the restaurant.
A sign on the door simply says, “Sorry, We Are Closed Due To Technical Difficulties.”
Many readers have written in to ask what’s up and so far, no official word — though the rumor mills are buzzing. Fleissner has not responded to email and phone inquiries and folks involved with the business’ are remaining tight-lipped. The voicemail at the restaurant does not give any indication that the restaurant is closed, leading to even more confusion.
BiteClub’s gotten word, however, that locks were changed. The restaurant opened in early March 2009. Stay tuned for details about when and if the restaurant will re-open.
I think we can officially put a fork in GG’s Earth and Surf — was in downtown SR late Fri p.m.. GG’s is completely cleaned out. The front door was open, and way in the back a woman (the owner?) had cleaning supplies, and was doing a final clean-up. Signs all gone and everything. R.I.P., GG’s.
Anonymous,
First, i do not know the owner of GG market. I am reader and enjoy food. It is wasting my time to response to your non sense critic. It does not matter what you ! My point is that it is tough for everyone out there already. We all want to do better and make an honest living not like those big corporation such as AIG. If you cannot help them then leave them alone. Bite Club again for me is down the drain. I heard from rumor that New York Times will shut them down in the near future so good luck with your job. Until then be good to other because you will need it.
Anonymous,
First, i do not know the owner of GG market. I am reader and enjoy food. It is wasting my time to response to your non sense critic. It does not matter what you ! My point is that it is tough for everyone out there already. We all want to do better and make an honest living not like those big corporation such as AIG. If you cannot help them then leave them alone. Bite Club again for me is down the drain. I heard from rumor that New York Times will shut them down in the near future so good luck with your job. Until then be good to other because you will need it.
Never went – never will.
Phyllis, this from Heather in an earlier post about GG’s; “She” is the GG owner…
“She’s currently looking for testimonials from people who love the restaurant for her SBA loan.”
I’m sure they put up SOME money, but that had SBA loan written all over it… Scary part is, no one (family members included) must have been too excited about the place/their business plan, if they ran out of cash this quick.
My gut says this — like most new business owners, they spent most of their money (probably way too much) on design, new equipment, etc. In other words, all on OPENING… and then didn’t have much left for ongoing operations, and MARKETING. Just opening your doors and getting a story in the Press Demo isn’t enough these days for any business, particularly a restaurant….
I think the frustrating thing about GG’s closing was the mystery associated with their sign – closed due to “technical difficulties.” TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES?! My DVR doesn’t record “Lost” due to “technical difficulties,” or I can’t hear the Giants on the radio due to “technical difficulties,” but closing a restaurant for that reason? Sheesh. Just say its “closed until further notice,” and “we apologize for any inconvenience.” (By the way, I walked by today and it looks like they are closed for good: Their tables are down, and they are selling their espresso machine and tables on Craigslist. Sounds like a fire sale to raise some cash.) Thatlocation is cursed…
It’s really hard to get an SBA loan for a food business. You need collateral equal to the dollar amount of the loan. Banks don’t make it easy for small businesses to qualify, no matter how great your concept, food or location is. Chances are good that their own money or someone’s close to them funded the venture, making the closure that much more painful.
Good point, hadn’t thought of that… failed SBA loan. I would rather pay for that than a Welfare check though. I guess my point was it’s a tough biz and economy and at least they were trying to make a go of it. More than I can say for some, who just seem to take and take.
The saddest part is, WE are paying this fiasco — through their SBA loan. What a joke…
Whatever the case, wish them well. They tried to do a good thing. This is a tough economy and the restaurant biz can be a tough biz. At least they tried.
I can’t help but note that there have been more comments about the comments then about what’s happening at GG’s. Getting back to GG’s, it would be hard not to conclude that the problems confronting them are financial in nature. That’s usually the case. For those of us who like the place, its departure, if that winds up happening, would be a real loss. And for those of you who don’t give GG’s high ratings, think of how you would feel if one of your favorate places was having problems.
K & LL Sounds to me like you might know the owner of this resturant. Frist off I have tried the food at GG and didn’t find it to be that great! Second the Bite clubs job is to report on food and resturants. I think they are doing a fine job at this. Weird to just put a sign on the door and close. I think they are the ones that did the harm to themselves and it is not the bite clubs problem. So why don’t you BACK OFF!
K, I am with you that BiteClub needs to do more research before making such a statement. I have no respect for BiteClub blog. It is a big joke. It is a tough time for everyone especially in the food business. If you are not helping to promote the business then back off! They need to make a living and pay bills. Your job is to judge them and in my opinion is very subjective when come to food. Readers, please do society a favor and go try the food yourself. Food is a very subjective topic just like watching a movie.
K = PWNED
Exactly, K.
I’m pretty clear on who I am and what i do.
But stop calling my new serving dish/ashtray a trinket. Sheesh. It’s quite nice. Now stop bugging me. I have a blog to write. 🙂
Response well written Heather. Your choice of words shows class even when you would like to use different language. That seems to be difficult in this age of electronic messages when one doesn’t have to look you in the eye. Thanks for your efforts.
I find the bite club info GREAT!! This way people aren’t planning to meet friends for dinner at a restruant that is not open. It all sounds a little weird to me. I dined there once thought the food was just OK. Nothing that would really bring me back again. Also my debit card was ran twice and I had to contact to owner to get my money back. I was not at all impressed!
That EPpy. Was that for Journalism? Or was it for writing an “Entertainment Blog?”
Don’t confuse a trinket for a Pulitzer.
Still, love the blog. 😉
Time to order some new business Cards!
Heather Irwin
Bite Club Writer/Cockfight Promoter
Nice reply, BC. You must of really appreciated that extra education in your field. TGIF.
Thanks for the journalism lesson, “K”. Haha. Funny.
I’ve tirelessly promoted local restaurants for almost three years now. Including GG’s. IMHO, not explaining to anyone why her restaurant has been mysteriously closed for nearly a week after telling people she’s expanding is where the damage is being done. Not me telling people the locks are changed.
People assume the worst in this economy.
So if you need to throw jabs, I’ll take hairdresser. Cockfighting is so messy. Meanwhile, I need to go shine up my EPpy.
A co-worker of mine is related to a server at the restaurant and she informed me yesterday that she was quite surprised at the e-mail that Bite Club had posted because the chef at the restaurant had informed her family member that they would be closing the restaurant down due to lack of funds, and that this is why the sign is currently up. Perhaps they are scrambling to find some way to make it work out in the meantime, but chances seem high that the restaurant is closing for good.
Whatever ails the restaurant at the present moment I hope it gets straightened out! Wow, I was hoping to dine there once reading the article from the other day informing us of the expansion and now this! Hope it all gets sorted out!
Darn. Great place. Just referred visitors.
“BiteClub’s gotten word, however, that locks were changed.”
Gotten word from whom? It’s one thing to write “…the rumor mills are buzzing,” but another to say you’ve “gotten word,” without citing a source, let alone an anonymous one. Trying to create a story with what you’ve heard and no official word makes you a hairdresser at worst and a cockfight promoter at best.
Speculation like that (which is what it is, unless you do indeed have evidence for what you’re writing) isn’t going to have a positive effect on that business or its potential for re-opening, and I think we can both agree that in this day and age, local restaurants need all the help they can get. And while your job isn’t to keep people in business, I think you do have a duty to have at minimum a mediocre journalist’s integrity.