Cappello officially announces closing
February 2nd, 2009 by Cliff Bostock in RestaurantsHere’s the (abbreviated) official word from Carmen Cappello, announcing the closing of Lamplighter:
Lamplighter, located in Atlanta’s Grant Park district, has decided to cease operations as of Feb. 1. Lamplighter…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…
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.
I’m not sure how the burglary relates to the decision to close, but that’s the story sent me today.
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Yeah, I’m a little confused by it too, to be honest. I understand the concern over the rise of crimes in the area, but exactly how a heavy financial burden are we talking about here? Proper insurance and what not usually eases those things.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:12 pm
shameburger?
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:42 am
will this guy just go away, i’m starting to believe that he really just likes reading his on press releases.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
im inclined to say something, but im afriad what KALI might say.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
chef carmen’s story changed more often than i change my underoos
this story never was right from the get go, and the latest version is simply preposterous
i wish him well wherever he ends up, but the only thing this sordid tale was missing was cameo appearances by paul bunyan and his ox babe
maybe they were behind the break in
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Oh, foodieman, let us have the olive branch, shall we?
I am all for giving Cappello the benefit of the doubt as I stated before, but it just seems like the story was odd, then slightly questionable, and now it’s downright weird.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:54 am
im tired of him. thats it.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:06 am
oh let me say that i was first one to mention his story from the beginning was whack.
shame on you cappello
February 4th, 2009 at 1:28 am
Foodieman don’t you have some kittens to drown or something?
February 4th, 2009 at 10:13 am
that last poster must have been Cappello.
i am just saying what people think.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:41 am
carmen, carmen, carmen, carmen, carmen chameleon
February 4th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Y’all act nice or I will tie you all up and force-feed you Popeyes chicken fingers.
February 4th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Promis Cliff? ;)
February 5th, 2009 at 1:10 am
like the anti spam word i am required to type before i post a comment says:
WHOA
February 5th, 2009 at 2:05 am
Whoa, indeed, foodieman.
I am sorry that I never got to eat at the Lamplighter, before or after Cappello’s reign, but upon hearing this strangeness, I wish I could feel sorry. The best of luck towards him, but I do think it would be in his best interest to be less vague and more forthcoming.
Honesty never hurts anyone but themselves.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:56 am
I removed a number of comments on this post because they were potentially libelous and also distracting and annoying. I also removed some responses to those comments for the sake of continuity.