Blue Talon Owner Plans to Open Gastropub

Blue Talon Owner Plans to Open Gastropub

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, August 17, 2011

If the word “gastropub” doesn’t ring a bell, restaurateur David Everett is hoping to change that.

Everett, chef and owner of Blue Talon Bistro and The Trellis, will be opening a gastropub in Merchants Square next spring. The restaurant will be located in the former SunTrust Bank on the corner of Duke of Gloucester Street and North Henry Street. The 140-seat restaurant will serve a wide variety of casual dishes and beers, some inspired by traditional English pub food.

Gastropubs have emerged as a food trend in the past decade, wedding the unfussy atmosphere of an English bar to high-end fare. The term refers to “gastronomy,” the art and science of good eating.

“Our goal is to offer an alternative to the current dining in Merchants Square with yet another unique and disarming neighborhood establishment,” Everett said. “The theme and scope of a gastropub combines the leisurely and unpretentious ambience of a watering hole with the epicurean delights of a good eatery at an affordable price.”

The pub will occupy the first floor and lower level of the bank building, which was built in the 1930s, with additions in the 1950s and 1960s. The exterior will be preserved while the interior will be completely renovated, with six offices available for lease on the second floor. The renovation will begin this fall with an opening planned for spring 2012.

Comments

+2 #18 Abby 2011-10-18 17:50

The Trellis is better than ever in my opinion. Blue Talon is fantastic. They are always packed whenever I go and in this economy that's something. I don't know why people think he caters to tourists - they seam like they try to attract local business... getting the tourists by default. I can't wait to go to the pub this Spring!

Quote

-5 #17 Guest 2011-08-19 05:51

I ccertainly do know how difficult it is being a small businessman. In this economy, one makes wise choices. I don't believe this is a wise choice given that the present restaurants are no where full now, during the height of the tourist season, and practically empty when everyone goes back home after Christmas. Of course I wish Everett well, but he needs to tend to his issues of poor service and prices that are too high. Price his product accordingly, and the locals will keep his head above water. In all the years I've lived here, I've never seen The Trellis be so poorly managed and the BT slipping as it have done as well. You don't cut corners that count. You make improvements and adjustments, perhaps even make a little less money, but you never cut back on quality.

Quote

+6 #16 Guest 2011-08-18 12:17

I wish Dave all the best. I don't eat out often. The few times I've been to BT and Trellis I've found them to be packed and for good reason. I've also been fortunate enough to support some of the causes he has supported -- he's provided unbelievable culinary experiences in terms of taste and presentation. I look forward to trying the Gastropub. He must be doing something right with the tourists and/or locals to be funded for opening a third in this economy. Sante!

Quote

+2 #15 Guest 2011-08-18 08:36

Do any of you have ANY concept how hard it is to operate a small business and a restaurant or two, and now THREE in any climate, let alone nowadays AND in CW.....Instead of propping up Dave and crew all can find fault.......I agree with JohnS, Dave is a visionary and think about how it would look without him and Adam and team.....no BT no Trellis and this building would go unused ..... I say HUZZAH

Quote

0 #14 Guest 2011-08-18 08:21

Yeah, the Trellis has had it's issues, but I've never had bad food or service from the Blue Talon. It's pricey, but very worth in my opinion. Their micro garnished apple dessert is out of this world!

Quote

+1 #13 Guest 2011-08-18 06:13

I agree 100% with you. Being a local, I took a friend to the Trellis for her birthday. We both ordered salmon salads which took nearly an hour to be prepared at a quiet lunch hour. No bread, no refills on water. When the salmon salad arrived, there was no dressing on the salad and you could barely see the piece of fish. When I wrote to the restaurant about our experience, I never heard from them A good manager always considers comments by customers. Perhaps Mr. Everett thinks he can make in on tourists spending their money to eat at his already overpriced restaurants. I hope he does well in his new endeavor, but he needs to learn from his past experiences. I was not trying for a "free meal". Had I wanted to be comped, I would have made a fuss while I was there. I did not so as not to embarrass my already annoyed guest.

Quote

+5 #12 Guest 2011-08-17 18:38

Awesome to hear that this property will go to great use by a visionary. Well Done Dave.

Quote

+1 #11 Guest 2011-08-17 18:02

Affordable is the key word here. Both BT and Trellis are indeed overpriced for what one gets for the money. They should cater more to the locals at a more reasonable price rather then to those who visit only once or maybe twice in a lifetime. Afterall, visitors are just that, visitors, but locals live here.

Quote

+2 #10 Guest 2011-08-17 16:09

One owner of three restaurants within breathing distance of each other has to be special. And it is! Hope it fills the seats and has lots of entertainment in the streets at night.

Quote

+9 #9 Guest 2011-08-17 12:03

....with the posters who say the food quality has gone down. I like the Trellis better now and the Blue Talon was always good. Could the price be lower? Sure, that would be nice, but for a special evening out I think they are priced comparable to what restaurants in other towns are.

The days when Merchants Square had a Rexall drug counter, Roses Department Store and Highs Ice Cream are long gone (for better or worse, depending on your viewpoint).

Quote

Refresh comments list

Add comment

WYDaily invites you to join the community conversation. We expect civil discourse here. Personal attacks on others, indecent language and bad manners in general are unwelcome.

JComments