After three years in one of the more prominent locations in Kent Station, Zephyr Grill and Bar has closed its doors, but a new restaurant is in line to take its place.
According to Nick Musser, corporate executive chef for R and R Restaurant Management (owner of the Zephyr as well as iCon Bar and Grill in Seattle and a restaurant in California) the Kent restaurant closed due to a combination of reasons tied to the struggling economy.
“It’s the same story most people have,” Musser said.
According to Musser, the company decided to pull back and focus its resources on its other two stores.
“Kent was our weakest link,” Musser said, adding that the business was not meeting expectations. “I’m not sure if we were a good fit for Kent.”
Musser said Zephyr was very much like the iCon Grill, which continues to do well in Seattle. He said he did not have an explanation, simply that Zephyr did not work in Kent.
Though the store officially closed Monday, Musser said rumors had been flying for weeks and workers knew the closing was in the works, though Monday’s announcement did come at the last second.
Ad a bit of good news, however, Musser said a new restaurant, Mama Stortini’s, would be moving into the location and retaining most of the current staff. Mama Stortini’s, a Puyallup-based Italian restaurant, did not return calls for comment.
Musser said fans of Zephyr’s menu always can visit the Seattle location for a similar menu and selection.
“We’re so sorry it didn’t work out for us,” he said.
Kent Station Manager John Hinds said in an e-mail statement that the management group was notified last week of the impending closure. Hinds also said Kent Station is working with Mama Stortini’s ownership group.
“Although no agreement has been finalized between the two parties, and it has yet to be approved by Kent Station, we all hope this will happen in the near future,” he said. “Kent Station will announce the new ownership group and opening date when and if an agreement is in place.”
Hinds also said Zephyr’s closing was an “isolated incident” and did not represent a sign of problems at the shopping center.
“On behalf of the ownership of Zephyr Grill and Bar, Kent Station would like to thank all the customers who patronized their restaurant since it opened in May of 2006,” Hinds said.
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