Smoke BBQ House is reopening with new ownership and a slightly different name (UPDATED)
Smoke BBQ House has shut its doors after only three months on Harbord Street. The southern barbecue restaurant announced the news on Twitter yesterday (greatly disappointing Ben Mulroney, among others), but hinted it may reopen with a new chef at a new location:
Peeps, it is with great sadness I inform you that Smoke is now closed. But continue to follow us to find out where/when we reopen.
— Smoke BBQ House(@SmokeBBQHouse) March 12, 2013
UPDATE: Smoke chef Tony Gallippi, who purchased the business from former owner Francesco Grandi, told us that he reopened the restaurant today under a new name, Smoke Bourbon Bar-B-Q House, and that he plans to roll out a new menu next week. Diners can expect much the same fare, with the addition of a few seafood and vegetarian options. Gallippi says that Grandi plans to open Smoke BBQ House in a new location, although there’s no word yet on when or where that will be. [h/t PostCity]
&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/smoke-bbq-brush-624x395.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_195947" align="aligncenter" width="656"] (Image: Karolyne Ellacott)[/caption]
Smoke BBQ House has shut its doors after only three months on Harbord Street. The southern barbecue restaurant announced the news on Twitter yesterday (greatly disappointing Ben Mulroney, among others), but hinted it may reopen with a new chef at a new location:
Peeps, it is with great sadness I inform you that Smoke is now closed. But continue to follow us to find out where/when we reopen.
— Smoke BBQ House(@SmokeBBQHouse) March 12, 2013
UPDATE: Smoke chef Tony Gallippi, who purchased the business from former owner Francesco Grandi, told us that he reopened the restaurant today under a new name, Smoke Bourbon Bar-B-Q House, and that he plans to roll out a new menu next week. Diners can expect much the same fare, with the addition of a few seafood and vegetarian options. Gallippi says that Grandi plans to open Smoke BBQ House in a new location, although there’s no word yet on when or where that will be. [h/t PostCity]){kind=link}
Wow that was quick!
Pretty silly that the former owner tweeted so rashly about the restaurant’s demise when the chef was obviously trying to keep it going. Sabotage much?
Not sure how that’s considered “sabotage.” Smoke will close and the new place will be something different. Seems pretty factual to me.
Um, by announcing with doom and gloom that the restaurant is closing without mentioning the fact that the chef is taking over is, yeah, kind of under-handed in my opinion. There was clearly bad blood at play here.
I follow them on Twitter and there was no “doom and gloom” announcement. All they said was they are closing and moving locations, which is the case. Whether you sell a restaurant or leave due to bad blood, it’s not your responsibility to promote the old business. Wouldn’t you much rather promote your own business? I’ve never owned a restaurant before, but I’m a small business owner and see absolutely nothing wrong with this. And trust me, I’ve seen foil play before. And I’m not here to get into an Internet battle. You have your opinion and I have mine. @local421:disqus