French Cafe - Moving to Aksarben

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:34 pm

I just heard that the French Cafe is looking at closing their doors downtown and moving west. Possibly One Pacific Place. Do not know how or where they would fit in. Wondering if anyone else had heard this.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:41 am

From what I read in the paper, they seem to change things all the time. Do you think they are having trouble keeping customers at their current location?

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 8:01 am

Brad wrote:From what I read in the paper, they seem to change things all the time. Do you think they are having trouble keeping customers at their current location?

I haven't been there for ages, but I keep hearing that they have slipped quite a bit WRT quality and service.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sat Sep 04, 2010 9:54 am

That would be a huge mistake, and an even bigger loss for Omaha. I think that the atmosphere at the French Cafe is unsurpassed by anything else in the region. We stop in for drinks every now and then, but seldom eat there, basically because I am not all that into French food.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Sun Sep 05, 2010 4:05 pm

In addition to thinking that's a big mistake, I'm sitting on a French Cafe gift card and hoping they're at least still Downtown when I'm back over the holidays! (if there is any merit to this rumor, of course)

Post by **Brad** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 3:23 pm

According to Grow Omaha, The french Cafe is moving next to Godfathers in Aksarben Village.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 10:35 pm

Interesting. Doesn't seem as suiting to them, but I wish them all the best! I'm just glad they're staying alive and adapting, at least in some way.

The bright side is that AK Village gets another tenant, Omaha keeps one of its culinary landmarks, and the Old Market has a prime space for a new business.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 11:12 pm

Dumb move.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Wed Nov 17, 2010 11:40 pm

Really dumb.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 12:28 am

ig'nant

I thought the French Cafe was a mercer enterprise? You know...that guy in Paris who started the Old Market to begin with? Back when it was dirty hippies and Monaco Vitale?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 7:10 am

nativeomahan wrote:That would be a huge mistake, and an even bigger loss for Omaha. I think that the atmosphere at the French Cafe is unsurpassed by anything else in the region. We stop in for drinks every now and then, but seldom eat there, basically because I am not all that into French food.

nativeomahan wrote:Dumb move.

They should stay put in order to serve drinks to clients that only stop in for drinks "every now and then, but seldom eat there". Makes sense. :roll:

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Thu Nov 18, 2010 12:03 pm

This getting away from the Underground had anything to do with this?

JPenny · Post by **JPenny** » Tue Nov 23, 2010 3:17 am

the sign next to godfathers says the space has been leased on the window!

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Fri Nov 26, 2010 4:26 pm

Anonymous wrote:
nativeomahan wrote:That would be a huge mistake, and an even bigger loss for Omaha. I think that the atmosphere at the French Cafe is unsurpassed by anything else in the region. We stop in for drinks every now and then, but seldom eat there, basically because I am not all that into French food.

nativeomahan wrote:Dumb move.
They should stay put in order to serve drinks to clients that only stop in for drinks "every now and then, but seldom eat there". Makes sense. :roll:

Let the record show:
1. I could walk from my home to the French Cafe if it opened at OPP (which is where it was rumored to be moving when I posted my first comment);
2. The French Cafe would be a 5 minute drive for me if it moved to Ak Village;
3. Despite it possibly moving close to where I live, I will frequent it less, if at all, if it moves, because...
4. I am not a fan of French food. I will only go there for drinks if I am out wandering the Old Market District, usually at Christmastime. It has a simply exquisite atmosphere, whether sitting in the bar or at a table looking out the large windows at the pedestrian traffic and the horse drawn carriages along Howard St.
5. Um, it's not about me. It's about it being a dumb move. They have a cache where they are not because of their food (which according to media and online reviews is uneven, expensive and often mediocre), but because it is unrivaled in atmosphere. It oozes romance. If they move, they will lose much of what they have going for them. I predict that they will be closed permanently within 2 years.

How many established restaurants in Omaha have successfully (re)located outside their traditional neighborhood in the past 20 years? Johnny's tried it once, and flopped. Several Caniglia family forays out west fell flat. Farmer Brown's tried it in Papillion. Now the building is a church. The Sparetime moved from 72nd to 5th St. That lasted about a year. Anyone remember the famous Neon Goose? Their trek out west killed the goose. Likewise for Firmature's. LaCasa Pizza tried a move to western Douglas County. Now closed.

totie1 · Post by **totie1** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:07 am

nativeomahan wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
nativeomahan wrote:That would be a huge mistake, and an even bigger loss for Omaha. I think that the atmosphere at the French Cafe is unsurpassed by anything else in the region. We stop in for drinks every now and then, but seldom eat there, basically because I am not all that into French food.

nativeomahan wrote:Dumb move.
They should stay put in order to serve drinks to clients that only stop in for drinks "every now and then, but seldom eat there". Makes sense. :roll:
Let the record show:
1. I could walk from my home to the French Cafe if it opened at OPP (which is where it was rumored to be moving when I posted my first comment);
2. The French Cafe would be a 5 minute drive for me if it moved to Ak Village;
3. Despite it possibly moving close to where I live, I will frequent it less, if at all, if it moves, because...
4. I am not a fan of French food. I will only go there for drinks if I am out wandering the Old Market District, usually at Christmastime. It has a simply exquisite atmosphere, whether sitting in the bar or at a table looking out the large windows at the pedestrian traffic and the horse drawn carriages along Howard St.
5. Um, it's not about me. So, should we disregard your first 4 points then? Since they do all seem to be all about "you"?

It's about it being a dumb move. (You mean paying rent on a 160+ seat restaurant to serve a public that occasionally stops in for drinks? Valid point Are you really an attorney?
They have a cache where they are not because of their food The relocation will have no ambiance then? You should use your insight to discourage this fatal move then (which according to media and online reviews is uneven, expensive and often mediocre), IDK seems like they are at least moving in the right direction:
http://reviews.opentable.com/0938/50812/reviews.htm
http://www.omaha.com/article/20101105/D ... /711059932

but because it is unrivaled in atmosphere. It oozes romance. If they move, they will lose much of what they have going for them. I predict that they will be closed permanently within 2 years. What is your prediction for how long they will stay open only "occasionally serving drinks"?

How many established restaurants in Omaha have successfully (re)located outside their traditional neighborhood in the past 20 years? Johnny's tried it once, and flopped. Several Caniglia family forays out west fell flat. Farmer Brown's tried it in Papillion. Now the building is a church. The Sparetime moved from 72nd to 5th St. That lasted about a year. Anyone remember the famous Neon Goose? Their trek out west killed the goose. Likewise for Firmature's. LaCasa Pizza tried a move to western Douglas County. Now closed.] Would you compare the French Cafe to these other restaurants in any other context?

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sun Nov 28, 2010 10:54 pm

Only time will tell, won't it?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 1:29 am

Does anyone know the proprietor's reasoning behind the move? Did the rent quadruple? Is the facility in need of major repairs they can't afford? Is the kitchen too small? Are they having problems with the owners of the property? If it's a choice between going out of business and moving to a new location, I can understand the move, and I'm glad they chose Aksarben Village over some godforsaken strip mall on 284th Street or something; but if the move is motivated by an expected bump in business at A/V, all things being equal, I think it's a bad move. Just from a marketing standpoint, A/V will never have the Old Market's foot traffic, which gives many of the restaurants there a good chunk of their business. I haven't been to the FC in several years, and I presume they've up-dated their menu to keep up with changing tastes, especially since the old-school French provincial stuff they were serving is pretty much a thing of the past. Restaurants die because the food is lousy or the market they're shooting for isn't there. A mediocre restaurant might survive if the foot traffic is such that they can limp along by fooling enough out-of-towners (I think Trini's Mexican in the OM is a perfect example--it's probably the worst Mexican food I've ever had). The new location will seal its fate, one way or the other. I just hope they have a product that people are willing to buy.

Ricko (forgot to log in)

zippy · Post by **zippy** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 5:43 pm

nativeomahan wrote:Likewise for Firmature's.

Which one of the Furmatures' many restaurants are you referring to?

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 10:37 pm

zippy wrote:
nativeomahan wrote:Likewise for Firmature's.
Which one of the Furmatures' many restaurants are you referring to?

Firmatures Sidewalk Cafe in Regency Court.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:06 am

Is the French Cafe moving official? Horrible mistake in my opinion.

Greg

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 9:52 pm

I don't know. Meanwhile, I heard tonight that V. Mertz has been sold.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Dec 02, 2010 10:23 pm

nativeomahan wrote:I don't know. Meanwhile, I heard tonight that V. Mertz has been sold.

Recently or earlier in the year? I heard something about one of the two restaurants down there earlier this summer.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Fri Dec 03, 2010 6:58 pm

Brad wrote:
nativeomahan wrote:I don't know. Meanwhile, I heard tonight that V. Mertz has been sold.
Recently or earlier in the year? I heard something about one of the two restaurants down there earlier this summer.

Not sure on the timetable. My best friend from HS has a shirt tail relative who bought it. Supposedly they want to offer some more accessible menu items. Whatever that means.

ThatGuy · Post by **ThatGuy** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 1:21 pm

The owner of The French Cafe told Nichole Aksamit that they are NOT moving anywhere.

Also, what the heck is wrong with this site? The only way I can get here is through a proxy server and it's next to impossible to get the pages to load even then.

Bosco55David · Post by **Bosco55David** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 2:46 pm

ThatGuy wrote:The owner of The French Cafe told Nichole Aksamit that they are NOT moving anywhere.

Also, what the heck is wrong with this site? The only way I can get here is through a proxy server and it's next to impossible to get the pages to load even then.

Have you tried clearing your cookies?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:06 am

V.Mertz was recently purchased by David Hayes, I believe he originally owned Jams Bebos and a few other establishments.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:26 pm

Anonymous wrote:V.Mertz was recently purchased by David Hayes, I believe he originally owned Jams Bebos and a few other establishments.

The Winery by Westroads, as well, although it's been awhile since he was involved, I think.

ThatGuy · Post by **ThatGuy** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:22 pm

Do you know Dave? If so, does he still own the lawn service too?

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Sat Dec 11, 2010 11:00 pm

Know, yes. Not well, although his service used to mow my parents' lawn until they were legally allowed to use me as slave labor.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:10 am

JPenny wrote:the sign next to godfathers says the space has been leased on the window!

Leased to Godfathers so they can expand. I've eaten at Godfathers at least 6-7x and there was never more than 15 people inside at one time. I don't get this one.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 9:54 am

Anonymous wrote:
JPenny wrote:the sign next to godfathers says the space has been leased on the window!
Leased to Godfathers so they can expand. I've eaten at Godfathers at least 6-7x and there was never more than 15 people inside at one time. I don't get this one.

I was under the impression that was for a party room for Godfathers to rent out.

ThatGuy · Post by **ThatGuy** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:27 pm

I asked the manager what they are doing in there and he said they are adding additional seating. He made no mention of a party room or anything else.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:37 pm

ThatGuy wrote:I asked the manager what they are doing in there and he said they are adding additional seating. He made no mention of a party room or anything else.

I stand corrected thanks.

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