Carmen Capello explains Lamplighter closing
January 15th, 2009 by Cliff Bostock in RestaurantsChef-owner Carmen Cappello has posted a comment on an earlier post here about the closing of Lamplighter in Grant Park. We are missing the restaurant! Here’s the comment, which was originally posted on Atlanta Cuisine:
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 us 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 too — 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….
Please look on 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 15th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
holeman & finch has great burgers (the best in the city, Mr. Bostock go get one now) and i hope they dont close just to open a burger joint.
January 16th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
so why did this guy rob his on place?
January 17th, 2009 at 8:19 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.
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:24 am
I can’t believe after being robbed this is what Chef Carmen has to deal with. What the “F” is wrong with people??
January 22nd, 2009 at 11:14 am
Sadly, it seems someone is gunning for him on the Atlanta Cuisine forums as well.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:32 am
Closing Press Statement
Lamplighter, located in Atlanta’s Grant Park district has decided to cease operations as of February 1, 2009. Lamplighter, a Cappello & Company chef driven casual upscale concept was founded by Chef Carmen Cappello in August of 2008. Lamplighter was well received in the Grant Park area and received high marks from several food critics – including Cliff Bostock of Creative Loafing. “For now, we should be grateful for places like Lamplighter (280 Connally St., 404-835-7167), whose chef, Carmen Cappello, has created an affordable bistro-style café with great food. The Memorial Drive area is becoming a popular location for new restaurants, but there’s nothing of comparable quality to compete with Lamplighter so far.”
The decision by Chef Cappello and his team to close the restaurant was difficult, but the decision had to be made and was based mainly on the rash of criminal activity over the course of the last several months in the immediate Grant Park area. Lamplighter was not excluded from these activities, as the restaurant was burglarized over the Christmas holiday. While vigilantly pursuing all options to recover from this event, it was deemed impossible to re-open as Lamplighter due to the heavy burden placed on the financial position of the company.