Kansas City Prime Auction

[Casetta]

On Friday night I drove through Manayunk and there was black plastic over the windows at Kansas City Prime. Tonight there are giant red signs that say AUCTION. Anyone have the scoop on what's going on?

Anna

[michaelklein]

Derek Davis and partners are selling the contents. KCP closed New Year's to make way for Kildare's, the Irish pub based in West Chester.

[KatieLoeb]

On Friday night I drove through Manayunk and there was black plastic over the windows at Kansas City Prime. Tonight there are giant red signs that say AUCTION. Anyone have the scoop on what's going on?

Anna

Nice sig line Anna!

I received an e-mailed invitation to come out to KCP in the waning days of December for two-for-one steaks before they closed. Alas, I didn't make it. The steaks there *used* to be quite palatable, but in recent years just didn't seem to be as good, so I guess I wasn't in a big 'ol hurry to get over there.

Interesting that they've actually sold the place rather than re-tooling, which seems to be in vogue these days when something isn't quite working (e.g. El Vez, Angelina, and that horrid knock-off Buca di Beppo where Arroyo Grill used to be).

[herbacidal]

Interesting that they've actually sold the place rather than re-tooling, which seems to be in vogue these days when something isn't quite working (e.g. El Vez, Angelina, and that horrid knock-off Buca di Beppo where Arroyo Grill used to be).

I'd speculate that Derek Davis doesn't have the organization behind him to keep another place going well. Nor do I think he is able to attract the people for one.

Maybe he realizes where his limit is.

Sonoma, Carmella's. Fish on Main (?) I think that's all he has right now, right?

No more Vega Grill, Arroyo Grille, Kansas City Prime.

That's just me. I can't say that others have an anti-Manayunk bias, but I sort of do.

[KatieLoeb]

Interesting that they've actually sold the place rather than re-tooling, which seems to be in vogue these days when something isn't quite working (e.g. El Vez, Angelina, and that horrid knock-off Buca di Beppo where Arroyo Grill used to be).

I'd speculate that Derek Davis doesn't have the organization behind him to keep another place going well. Nor do I think he is able to attract the people for one.

Maybe he realizes where his limit is.

Sonoma, Carmella's. Fish on Main (?) I think that's all he has right now, right?

No more Vega Grill, Arroyo Grille, Kansas City Prime.

That's just me. I can't say that others have an anti-Manayunk bias, but I sort of do.

Herb:

Just one note. Vega Grill was never in the Derek Davis stable. Owners were Lisa Martensen-Pauwels and her husband Greg. Guillermo Pernot was the opening chef and he left to open Pasion with Michael Dombkoski. The place never seemed to recover from that and eventually closed as well.

I haven't been to Manyunk in quite some time. Is the old Vega Grill space still lying fallow? That was a cute little spot, and well set up for a restaurant. Nice bar too.

[mrbigjas]

That's just me. I can't say that others have an anti-Manayunk bias, but I sort of do.

I don't have much of a bias either way re: Manayunk, but I do when it comes to Derek Davis.

[SG-]

I haven't been to Manyunk in quite some time.  Is the old Vega Grill space still lying fallow?  That was a cute little spot, and well set up for a restaurant.  Nice bar too.

Yes

[herbacidal]

Just one note.  Vega Grill was never in the Derek Davis stable.  Owners were Lisa Martensen-Pauwels and her husband Greg.  Guillermo Pernot was the opening chef and he left to open Pasion with Michael Dombkoski.  The place never seemed to recover from that and eventually closed as well.

I haven't been to Manyunk in quite some time.  Is the old Vega Grill space still lying fallow?  That was a cute little spot, and well set up for a restaurant.  Nice bar too.

Thanks for the correction.

I was unsure about that one, too. I should have put that question mark next to it as well.

The Vega space itself was still open when I last walked past somewhere around 6 months ago. There did seem to be some activity, possibly just people clearing stuff out.

So Fish on Main is still there? I remember it opening as River City Diner, or something like that.

Edited February 4, 2004 by herbacidal (log)

[KatieLoeb]

So Fish on Main is still there? I remember it opening as River City Diner, or something like that.

Speaking of re-tooling...

What a shame that space is still empty. Someone needs to open a restaurant there.

Anyone?

[Rich Pawlak]

So Fish on Main is still there? I remember it opening as River City Diner, or something like that.

Speaking of re-tooling...

What a shame that space is still empty. Someone needs to open a restaurant there.

Anyone?

It is in operation now, and has been for a year.

[herbacidal]

So Fish on Main is still there? I remember it opening as River City Diner, or something like that.

Speaking of re-tooling...

What a shame that space is still empty. Someone needs to open a restaurant there.

Anyone?

It is in operation now, and has been for a year.

So it's in biz as Fish on Main?

[michaelklein]

No. It's now simply called Manayunk Diner, partly owned by Tom Konidaris from Zesty.

[herbacidal]

No. It's now simply called Manayunk Diner, partly owned by Tom Konidaris from Zesty.

So is it a diner diner, or a retro/modern/cool/stylish/nuevo diner?

[michaelklein]

A diner diner, what the world needs more of. (Though it has some of the design left over from previous incarnations.)

[Yannii]

does anyone know when they are having the KCP auction? can the general public attend? i could use some steak knives...