Current operators of The Penguin Brian Rowe and Jimmy King issued a press release Thursday evening suggesting the recent drama over the location and business aren't quite over: "We would like to be accommodating but we won't be bullied or treated in bad faith. At this point, we will do whatever is necessary to deal with this situation and be treated fairly and in accordance with the law... (W)e are not used to having lawyers and dealing with these sorts of disputes."
Asked for more detail, King declined.
To recap: Rowe and King, with chef Greg Auten, took over operation of the Plaza-Midwood landmark restaurant about 10 years ago from the originator, the late Jim Ballentine. The Ballentine family kept ownership of the building and the restaurant name and logo. About five months ago, Auten left the business to open a new restaurant. This week, it was announced that Rowe and King's lease would not be renewed, and that the Ballentine family, with Auten returning and the addition of experienced franchisor Martin Sprock, would begin operating the restaurant, that it would retain the Penguin name, and eventually be franchised.
Rowe and King, who became partners in the nearby Diamond restaurant renovation some months ago, have said they would cease operating the Penguin Oct. 24. The Diamond is slated to open around the end of October. The news has continued to create a stir, especially in social media, where several Facebook pages address the developments, and the Twitter hashtag #penguingate continues to be active.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Penguin: It ain't over
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29 comments:
Come on Rowe and King... move on with your lives. This is pretty silly. It's not exactly Google stock we're talking about here. You're creating a bad name for yourselves, and a negative perception of the Penguin. Just go with some dignity. All of the grassroots chatter should make you feel good, but it shouldn't make you do something dumb. By making comments like this, you're just putting yourself in an awkward situation and making a much bigger deal out of this than you should. Your publicity seeking attitude will come back to haunt you in other business ventures.
Do you believe that Martin Sprock cares at all about food or the Plaza/Midwood neighborhood. If I was Greg Auten I'd be worried about becoming involved with a guy who has had multiple lawsuits filed against him and questionable business deals.
Thank you, Helen, for this meaningless bit of trifle. Amusing to see you are on par with your news desk colleagues, employing the ubiquitous Observer coda, "A request for additional detail wasn't answered."
I don't think that's entirely fair Reggie.
They've worked hard at that joint and have made it a huge success. Now, the family who hasn't done anything other than take the rent, wants them out in order to exploit the name??
Sorry, but without knowing more of the circumstances in which their lease is not being renewed other than the Balantine family wants to "franchise" it, they have my support.
I take people to Penguin when they come into town. One of the points of going there is that they haven't SOLD OUT to being a franchise. Like Mac's. Or expanded for that matter. They serve great burgers. It'll be a shame to allow it to go down the path that the Ballantines want.
I personally won't go there after the 24th.
Reggie, what do you have, that you have poured ten years of your life into that you would be so ready to let someone steal from you? Exactly.
who has hired you to be their mouthpiece? get the facts, then comment. your position will change.
Support Brian, Jimmy and The Diamond! Spread the word and keep the spirit of the Penguin alive in Charlotte: http://www.famefoundry.com/save-the-penguin
this whole deal reminds me of the Dukes Of Hazzard. The General Lee was a cool car with Bo and Luke inside, but it was just another car with Coy and Vance driving it. yep,the Penguin is going to be run by Coy and Vance
Sounds like Reggie is related to the Ballentines.
After 10 years, it's not that easy to just "move on."
Hm-m-m-m, let's see. Isn't this about the third or fourth story about this?
Here's an idea for you Helen.
Why don't you do a two-page story spread, complete with a slideshow, on the Penguin and get all this out of your system?
You and the CO have been hammering this story so hard, I'm surprised it hasn't broken into a thousand pieces.
Dislike. They have every right to fight for what they've worked so hard to build. Keep fighting, guys !
Don't think they are creating a bad name for themselves at all. Just any one of us they want to be treated fairly and not be run over. I am sure that there are additional things that have happened that we don't know about and to blame them for issuing a press release on their behalf just as the other side has seems pretty obvious why they did it to me.
Completely disagree Reggie. People can't put up with being pushed around by jerks. More power to them and boycott the Penguin 10/24.
... next
Reggie, you may want to get the facts before you rush to judgement.There's alot more going on than meets the eye. This is their livelihood we're talking about. Fortunately they have a new venture in the works to cushion the blow, however that is a split venture with another party so at the end of the day Rowe and King both take a hit.
I completely disagree Reggie. If you have eaten at the Penguin you would know/understand that the place isn't a Burger King and that the folks who work/eat there genuinely care about each other's business. That's why people will wait in the long lines and the wait staff returns the favor with great service. It's more about the dinning experience rather than "get you in and out" to make another green back. That's why there is hub bub and conflict. It's clear there are two teams here. One that likes it the way it is and the other who wants to make as much money as possible.
congratulations, you will end up putting dozens of people out of work because of all the "hating" on your blog. couldn't find a real story, jumped on all the negativity the TV stations are covering, how original. never once looked at it form both sides, but I guess that's what amateur "journalists" do these days. Look back at what you did 6 months form now when all those people have to pay rent.
I guess that we can look forward to tastless food and a luke warm "Welcome to the Penguin" when Martin Spock turns this in to a new Burger King.
Who cares! I'll eat at both if the food is good. They're in the same darn block. People act like it's the end of the world.
Don't worry guys, just let them have it. You have nothing to prove to anyone. We all know and like what you did with the P, but "Diamonds are a girls best friend" Hold those heads high and keep your dignity...this is your future now. Make it better.....and we will come. You haven't lost your customers....they are just waiting on you to get settled, so don't lose sight of what's in front of you just to spite what you are leaving behind....much love.
First of all, people, this is a blog. Helen relays restaurant related information to us as she gets it. This info is coming from a press release not hearsay she heard on the street. If you aren't interested in the developments of this story (as many of us are), don't read it.
Second, these guys shouldn't go down without a fight. It sounds like the Ballentine family is trying to bully them into either leaving or selling out, and I don't blame them for trying their best to keep what they've worked so hard for. Best of luck to them.
this is unbelievable, it turns out Jimmy King and Brian Rowe actually were trying to turn the Penguin into a franchise on their own, and couldn't come up with the money...so much for "corporate greed" did the observer know this?
I used to live down the street from the Penguin and have since moved to Key West. I am behind on what is going on I will admit that but what I do know is that no matter what anyone says there are very few people who after 10 years of building a reputation and busines. would just walk away as some are suggesting happen. It sucks that that these developers and builders come in and just destroy years of history in the name of greed. I know in this case the building is still there but mark my words there will be little that is left of what we all know as The Penguin once the developers, marketers and consultants get their hands on this. Don't take my word just think of how many other places you and your friends don't go to because of changes that place made and that will be your answer. I loved the Penguin when I lived there and had my last meal in town there. I often tell people to check it out when they visit but I'll be sending them to the Diamond instead.
reggie....
i respectfully disagree. these guys put 10 years of hard work into building this place. it was a dump before they got there. just like most of us, their job/passion is their life. much bigger deal to them than what you have written. i can only guess that you have one of those jobs that you look forward to leaving every day otherwise you would understand their situation a little better.
People seem to forget this Ballentine family owns all the land under most of the businesses on thtat block. They also own lot's of other businesses around Charlotte. Why not otake this from Boycott the Penguin after the 24th to BOYCOTT anything the Ballentine Family Trust runs.....all they seem to care about is MONEY
Everyone stop and think about the employees losing their jobs.... then say "who cares if the food is the same"... it sucks. Bottom line.
You know when they took the penguin over ten years ago that neighborhood was heroin ally and that building was a shell. The penguin drive it as it is today did not exist before they took it over and helped to turn that whole neaborhood around. Also I was under the impression that Jason Burke ran the kitchen at The Penguin through the boom years. Then after he left Tony was the Kitchen manager. Sounds like Greg hasn't run much besides the pig smoker and the hot dog cart for a while now. You know given that I worked in the kitchen there for two and a half years I figured I had a good idea of how it ran.
Jimmy and Brian need to fight!
We will support them.
I won't patronize anything in that space other than a restaurant they run. I know a LOT of people who feel the same way.
It's official. Greg Auten is now officially out of the picture. This is going to get interesting. Kudos to those guys for standing up for themselves and kudos to the homegrown protest that's been going on in the interwebs. This isn't about franchising, selling out, etc.. it's about doing what's right and not shafting the guys who made the place what it is today.
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