Chavella's moving to 736 Franklin near Sterling Place

Subject: Chavella's moving to 736 Franklin near Sterling Place

Yep, it's true. The owner's request for a full liquor license was approved at last night's Community Board meeting. She expects to expand to 40 seats and have a full bar. 8)

Yes, and she might even deliver to Albany Avenue!

Just because it has been approved by the Community Board doesn't make it a done deal. The state liquor board actually issues licenses and has broad discretion particularly if there is a school or church on the same block. I hope they get it though, it would greatly improve that block of Franklin.

The State Liquor Board has approved a number of liquor applications for bars on the same block as storefront churches. Most notably for Soda on Vanderbilt, on the same block as a storefront church.

Does this mean they will be closing their restaurant on Classen or opening another on Franklin?

True enough, the liquor law won't allow them to issue if there is a building solely used as a church or school, and gives them discretion in other cases. Teddy's restaurant on Washington didn't get their liquor license until the Montessori school relocated, so I am guessing that the liquor board is more concerned about schools than store front churches.

Yeah, I thought this was just a new branch:

From I Love Franklin Avenue Blog:

I spoke to a waiter at Chevella's tonight. They are opening a new, different restaurant on Franklin, and keeping their current location.

http://ilovefranklinave.blogspot.com/2010/06/chavellas-coming-to-franklin.html

I don't even think the new place is supposed to be Mexican food.

Yay! That really happened fast.

I talked to one of the owners this morning. They are moving Chavella's to the new, larger spot and keeping the old space to eventually open another restaurant.

OpossumQueen wrote: I talked to one of the owners this morning. They are moving Chavella's to the new, larger spot and keeping the old space to eventually open another restaurant.

Smart...

to the east..to the east

I believe it was Horace Greeley's enlightened nephew who said "Go East, young man"

Good news for Franklin!

Anyone know what the delay is?

Oh, Whynot, I saw that this thread was resurrected - and by you no less - and I thought you were going to post "It's open!" and I would have been out the door in seconds to go get dinner. But upon clicking on this thread, I see you're simply asking what I ask myself every day on my walk home from work.

I admit, My posts do disappoint once and a while.

I would ask the Classon location, but that place is too packed for me to tolerate.

I heard last I was at the Classon st location (a few weeks ago) that it was "licensing" from the server who's always there. whatever that may mean.

The issue is with the wheel chair access ramp. The previous tenant illegally modified the ramp and Chavella's is now in the process of legally correcting things with DOB. I'm thinking the previous tenant may have illegally added the ramp and they're now having to clean that up.

I take it the ramp is not ADA compliant, or does it encroach on the city's sidewalk?

I'm thinking of all those establishments that have to have a ramp INSIDE thier space because they can't built outside. The Mexican place on Washington comes to mind.

Ridonkulous said:

Talked with the manager last night and Chavela's opening seems imminent. Something to do with the DOB which is very very close to being resolved. In the meantime, there's this

http://prospectheights.patch.com/articles/franklin-avenue-chavelas-to-open-in-july

Breaking News Update

I had a chance to talk with one of the owners (?) tonight. He reports that he has been battling the DOB re: open work permits dating back to 1996 (long before he took occupancy of the building), that were never closed.

Every permit had to be closed, and a DOB inspector had to come out and verify that the long dormant work permits could be closed out. It was reportedly tons of paperwork and hassle over a period of about 6 months.

But here is what you really want to know:

They expect

to finally

open on

Wednesday

August 24th!

great news - i actually ate at the "old" chavella's on monday, so good. do you know what's going to happen to the original location? does it immediately close, or will they operate both for a while?

When I talked with him several months ago, he planned to keep both locations open if the demand was there.

when they open on the 24 or 25th be there w 20 or 40 and lets drink a margarita or 4..Good luck!!! you and your family have worked really, really hard

today is the last day for the old location. wed for the grand opening of the new and improved

Anyone know if Chavella's actually opened today? I was hoping to swing by after work.

Brownstoner reports it has been open since 11 AM today.

http://www.brownstoner.com/blog/2011/08/the-new-chavelas-is-finally-open/

If you go, please give us a report

Gratzi mile!

I walked by.

It is completely packed, with a crowd outside waiting to get in.

I'll try it once the crowds diminish.

We went for dinner tonight.

Yes, it was packed. And there was a wait (40 minutes when we arrived at 7pm).

But the service was good once we were seated -- very attentive.

We had 2 "Draft" margaritas (very yummy - I usually hate them because they're too syrupy, but these were good) and 2 entrees for $36 and paid with A CREDIT CARD!

It's the same menu and the same prices -- I assume they'll make their extra money through drinks now.

It was packed - and they hired a Mariachi band to play. I felt bad for the band - they walked through the restaurant once before leaving because it was just too packed. But it was a nice touch.

Overall, my only "complaint" if you will was that it was LOUD. People were acting like it was a bar and not a restaurant. Not that the music was loud or something, but that there was some obnoxiously loud people who had had a few drinks and were doing the annoying taking-photos of everyone they're having dinner with, freaking out over things on people's iphones, etc ... stuff that happens at bars, not restaurants usually. But that may just be me being a cranky old lady. I wonder if it will stay that way or if it will quite down. I just thought of Dean Street -- also a large bar with tables for dinner, but a very different level of noise -- anyway, not really a complaint, but something I observed that I wasn't 100% in love with I guess.

all corrections made..full bar with good selection of tequilla , house margs at 5 bucks, taco happy hour specials still in place, beautiful dining room, with a spacious bar if you want a snack or just a drink.Once things calm down this is going to be a great spot.

xlizellx said:and paid with A CREDIT CARD!

This needs to be emphasized again, as this is huge for the non-cash people.

We went the other day and were very happy. The staff moved around like there was a bit of disarray, but it didn't affect the service in terms of timeliness - all drink and food orders were reasonably prompt. The quality of the food hasn't suffered through the move, either.