News that sucks
January 6th, 2009 by Cliff Bostock in Restaurants
I haven’t been able to get details, but Lamplighter in Grant Park has closed and this sign on the door at least partly explains why. “Asshole” is an understatement to describe anyone who robs someone on Christmas Day.
I was dining regularly at the restaurant, since it’s close to our home. Owner-chef Carmen Cappello is one of the city’s more gifted, kinkier cooks. Prices were low, the food was good, but the location, on a side street off Memorial Drive, made the place invisible to passersby — with the exception of thieves, apparently. This is the second restaurant to close in the building.
(Photo by Cliff Bostock)
January 6th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Can you find out if this will affect SHAME Burger, too? It was supposed to open yesterday, but the website now says next Monday (1/12).
January 6th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Watch out FLIP!!!!!
Here comes Shame Burger, an even awesomer concept!
http://shameburgers.com/SHAME_Menu.html
January 6th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Is Shaun Doty consulting at Shame, too?
January 6th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
This has all the hallmarks of a publicity stunt concocted by Michael Burkholder to generate brand-awareness for the hottest new burger concept in town:
http://shameburgers.com/The_SHAME_Team.html
jbfc. kys now.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
how does a restaurant close if it is robbed? did they have all their cash in the restaurant??!
no insurance? doesn’t sound right to me.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
who would leave all their money in the restaurant??
January 6th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Only an idiot would have their money in the restaurant. Didn’t they have an alarm helllo!!! Geez how many chances is this guy gonna have Mix, Sweet LowDown now Lamplighter geez what an idiot
January 7th, 2009 at 12:13 am
Nice, Foodguru. I hope you get mugged on your way home!
January 7th, 2009 at 1:24 am
What a bizarre string of comments for a post about Lamplighter closing.
ANYway…
I unfortunately only had the chance to eat here once and I really enjoyed it — though I was weirded out by being the only person in the place for dinner that night. I had a couple of great appetizer-type plates and was impressed with the small but high-quality beer list.
I hope this chef finds an equal outlet for his talents soon (and in a similarly comfortable-yet-stylish space).
January 7th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.
January 7th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Read the article in the paper this morning about the Standard (a block away from Lamplighter) and tell me if they are making that up too…
January 9th, 2009 at 10:48 am
and so the truth emerges:
http://www.atlantacuisine.com/cgi-bin/eforums/YaBB.pl?num=1219257670
January 15th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Here is the truth…..
Hello…..Hello…..Hello…. to all!
It seems that I need to address what has been going on with the Lamplighter since there seem to be so many stories out there — shout to Cliff for putting up the picture that was on my door — I put it up and I believe it was the right thing to do –
We had closed Lamplighter for the Christmas holiday from December 22nd until December 27th — I was going on holiday to meet up with my family in Tampa –
I returned on the 26th early and headed to the restaurant to get the restaurant ready for Saturday service — as I pulled up to the Lamp — I saw one of the doors was open and i said “OH SHIT” — went to the door and low and behold we had been robbed — they took everything from the Flat Screen TV to the POS to the cash drawer and everything else in between –
The reason I put that sign on the door was because it was because of the ASSHOLES that robbed up that we would be able to open back up immediately — as you all know who read and write on this blog that the restaurant industry is tight right now and that includes the little people like me to — I did not have enough capital to get the doors open from what was taken — so yes the Lamplighter has been closed indefinitely — so to answer some questions of others:
1. I didn’t set up the robbery of my own place –
2. We do have insurance and I am learning that it is a lengthy process —
3. This is not a PUBLICITY stunt! We were robbed and it offends me that people would even entertain that idea –
As for SHAME Burgers — it will reopen in the space of Lamplighter sometime in the near future — IT ALL DEPENDS ON THE INSURANCE — and now I must say that you were correct Tom!–
Please look on http://www.shameburgers.com and on facebook if you are a member under the SHAME groups page –
I apologize in advance if this rubs people the wrong way — I am tired of people speaking and making accusations about this issue when they no nothing about what is going on with MY TEAM’s restaurant –
Thank you for understanding!
Chef Carmen
January 17th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
How come this isn’t on the lamplighteratl page? The lamplighter has been replaced by what seems to be a productions company called phoenix productions. Seems to me this guy didn’t have anymore money and the creditors came to collect what they were owed.