Séanachie to shut down
Séanachie, the Irish pub that opened in 1997 at the corner of Fourth Avenue South and Broadway, will shut its doors at the end of this week. According to Joe Barker, principal partner of Celtic Pub Company, which owned and operated the restaurant, Séanachie failed to make a satisfactory return on its investment. Though business was good when the eatery first opened, the ensuing downturn in tourism was a serious blow to the restaurant, which had trouble attracting local diners to its downtown location. Facing an impending rent increase on the property, the partners in Celtic Pub Company decided it was time to shut the business down. They’re currently discussing new options for the space. Séanachie is the latest in a distressingly long list of high-profile downtown eateries and nightspots to shut their doors in the last five years, among them NASCAR Cafe, Planet Hollywood, O’Charley’s, Mère Bulles, Ace of Clubs and Have a Nice Day Cafe.
Triple play
Diamonds are a restaurant’s best friend, particularly when they are given by AAA Publishing, which publishes the AAA Restaurant Ratings. A representative of the company recently visited Belle Meade Brasserie, which nearly two years ago moved to more elegant digs and significantly altered its menu under chef Matthew Dudney. After the meal, AAA notified owner Mark Rubin that it was upping the restaurant’s rating from two diamonds to three, which indicates restaurants that consistently use fresh foods and in-house-produced ingredients.
Now, that’s Italian
In classic European tradition, Caffe Nonna, the small Italian restaurant in Sylvan Park, is shutting down for a two-week vacation. After dinner on Saturday night, Aug. 10, it will close; it will reopen for dinner Monday, Aug. 26.
To send food tips, news and updates, e-mail kwest@nashvillescene.com.
