Tuesday, September 21, 2010

"Everybody's cool": Penguin update

Jimmy King and Brian Rowe, current operators of The Penguin in Plaza-Midwood, and Lisa Ballentine of the Ballentine family, who owns the building and Penguin name, confirmed Tuesday that King and Rowe will move on after Oct. 24. The Ballentines declined to renew King and Rowe's lease.

"Everybody's cool, everybody's friends," said King, who with Rowe and chef Greg Auten took over running the place about 10 years ago. "We love the Ballentines and I think they love us. That's all I've got to say." Said Rowe: "We've known the family 10 years."

Ballentine had earlier likened the situation to a romantic breakup: "There's strong language ... but at the end of the day, you still love each other." In a nod to the tumult, she did add, "Yeah, the lease was coming to an end, but you were going out with another girl anyway (the Diamond; see below)... We're all doing what's best for the Penguin."

The three met late into the night Monday, says Ballentine, not about an "eleventh-hour deal," but "honestly (because) all of us freaked out over the Internet and television" tempest that began Monday morning. Facebook and Twitter were bombarded with postings (including the hashtag #penguingate on Twitter, and tweets that included links to Venn diagrams), and television cameras appeared on site.

And angst still exists in the community, despite the apparent smoothing over among the principals. A Penguin fan page on Facebook, which hadn't had a new posting since January 2009, now has as its status "Come experience The Penguin Drive-In without it's soul" (yes, spelled that way), while a Facebook event titled "Boycott the Penguin as of Oct. 24th" had more than 2,000 people planning to "attend" (or, rather, not attend, since it's a boycott) by about 5 p.m. Tuesday.

"We have nothing to do with that," said King.

UPDATE: Event creator Mark Cline lives in China Grove and says he created the boycott event "as a little sign of support" and sent it to "a few friends." "I have to say, this is completely blown out of proportion ... half the people boycotting are the same hipsters that put the Bird where it is today, going out of business ... I'm sure I'll have to pull the plug on this soon."

Those concerned about the change at the Penguin fall broadly into two categories:

  • People who dislike the new plan for the Penguin, which includes franchising by experienced Charlotte franchisor Martin Sprock, and the return of Auten (who left about five months ago to open a new place) as part of the operation prepping for franchising, and,
  • People who feel an allegiance to King and Rowe, and have expressed their intent to "move along" with them as they prepare to reopen The Diamond. That restaurant business, also an icon among Charlotte businesses, was purchased by the pair, along with Andy Kastanas of Soul Gastrolounge, this year. Extensive renovations have been done and it is slated to reopen as an "updated" diner by the end of October or beginning of November. (Plans call for it to be open 24 hours a day eventually.) "We remain firmly committed to this neighborhood," King said in a press release.
The Penguin, known for its burgers and fried pickles as well as its diverse clientele, has appeared on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," and has been a neighborhood gathering spot since Ballentine's father, Jim, opened it in the mid 50s as an ice cream shop.

Ballentine combats accusations of "forcing out" King and Rowe by saying she plans to do another project with them, though she won't say more than that it won't be a restaurant and it will be in Plaza-Midwood. King and Rowe declined to comment, beyond saying "we've talked about some ideas. It's too early to say anything."

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

All this ballyhoo over what's basically a dive? The only thing the Penguin's got going for it is location. Last time I was there, they had more flies inside than customers. Give me the old Athens back any day.

Anonymous said...

"Give me the old Athens back any day."

The old Athens is now the "new" Harrisburg Family Restaurant on Hwy 49 in Harrisburg. Great food, always busy.

Simian said...

I hear a name change is in the works as well, from 'The Penguin' to 'The Lizard.'

Anonymous said...

So, what they're telling us is no more Penguin?-

Anonymous said...

I am thinking the Penguin is gone- with Andy Kastanas involved I forsee another yuppie "cool place" to be with a meny comprised of "less or evils" overpriced and over rated- as far as the basic good food to eat, bad for you- frm the Penguin-- I fear that won't make the through the Kastanas treatment--

Anonymous said...

"Venn diagrams?" What does that mean?

Anonymous said...

It is time to pull back the curtain on this since the Observer is doing a good job staying on top of this story. There is part of this story that hasn't been told. The untold part is the reason for the uproar. The people that are enraged and are planning to boycott are NOT doing so because of the plans to franchise the company. They are doing so because Rowe and King WERE forced out and had THEIR business legally stolen from them. They were given an ultimatum, give us controlling interest in your business OR we won't renew your lease. That is where the outrage is stemming from. It will only build. News of what happened to them is just beginning to spread, and all of those who hear are steadfast; they will make sure the word continues to get out and that this deed will not go unpunished. The Ballentines, Auten, and his new partners will be remembered for doing a dispicable deed. You will never hear this from Rowe or King. They simply have too much class and are so much bigger than those who did this to them.

Anonymous said...

If you don't like how this went down, wait till you get to know the guy that's franchising, Martin Sprock. He's a snake oil salesman and a swindler. Never had an original idea, always steals or buys someone elses. He made
a a fortune screwing Moes franchisees and he'll do the same to the Penguin franchisees. Add the Bird to the list of places I no longer go. Go see how many people are and have sued the guy. I wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire.

Anonymous said...

its too bad the new business owner has been in trouble for fraud!! come up with your own idea instead of swiping one out from under Rowe and King who have built it into the successful business it is today. The penguin is so popular b/c its unique, if you franchise it then whoopppie it'll be just like a chick-fil-a on the corner of commonwealth and thomas ave. and however many more locations they try to build. whats cool about that? ....nothing! i feel awful for all of the employees and their families that their screwing over. no worries though we'll see you all at Pinkies :)

Anonymous said...

Ditto on Martin Sprock, the back story and after the 24th I will never go there again.

Anonymous said...

I hate all this is happening. But the Penguin has been through bad times before. Before most of you were even in Charlotte, the Penguin was here, though my parents wouldn't let me get near "that place" growing up. I'm glad it was redone several years ago. I hope they do keep it the same, because I can't live without my fried pickles and my small block burger. DON'T CHANGE THE PENGUIN!

Anonymous said...

Oh boy, another "soul"-less Andy Kastanas joint. Might as well have teamed up with Sprock if that's how it's going to be. Will the Diamond over-withhold employee taxes and pad bar tabs too?

John said...

Anon 4:41 - try actually reading the story. Kastanas has NOTHING to do with the Penguin.

Anon 4:58 - You seem way more upset than Rowe and King are, and you are making wild accusations that their statements don't support. In fact, simple logic doesn't support your wild accusations.

Everyone needs to take a deep breath and chill.

Anonymous said...

Two categories? They left out one...a really big one. The name of the category is: Those Who Don't Give A S*** Because The Penguin Is A Repulsive Dive

Hugh G. Rection said...

Zacks is better anyway.

Anonymous said...

The only time I ever went to the Penguin the service SUCKED & the food was ok. What I'm REALLY pissed about is that the Diamond is now going to cater to all the 20-30 somethings who hang out in Plaza-Midwood & the old folks who used to go there regularly won't have a place to go. So it seems that what got done to the owners of the Penguin (getting screwed) also got done to the old folks who liked to go to the Diamond. I will go to the "new" Diamond just once to see what kind of redecorating the Penguin owners have done to a good old-fashioned neighborhood restaurant. I have no sympathy for them.

Anonymous said...

I could not agree more about Martin Sprock and Raving Brands....I almost bought into Flying Biscuit early on, that was until I had a chance to interview a few franchisees. I am glad that I do my homework as they are the WORST company to associate with and it would have been a huge mistake. I will certainly stop going to Penguin and miss taking friends, family and clients to a Charlotte ICON. It is a shame that they probably do have a chance on success.....look at the crappy chains like Chili's, Applebees, Ruby Tuesday etc....

Anonymous said...

Don’t you just hate it when people
are successful

Anonymous said...

Having lived in the 'hood for a long time, I can remember seeing the guys working on renovating the diner late into the night. It makes me really sad that the owners are taking back control over a business that recovered due to someone else's hard work and innovation.

We are really excited to see the Diamond take on new life, and will try hard not to miss the Penguin as it was.

jonathan said...

andy is the cook who came up with the food, it went downhill after he left...I'll be at the new penguin to check out andy's menu, I'm only in it for the chow, all else is nonsense!

Anonymous said...

I will not ever go to the 'new' Penguin and make sure I urge every person I know to do the same. Screw those jack ass enterprises that capitalize on others blood sweat & tears.

RayRay said...

The Penguin along with Thomas St. and the Common Market were the only people brave enough to be in business around the area 10 years ago. If anyone remembers Fat City when it left so did the feel of NODA which its slowly getting back. The question is, if the penguin was moderately successful would the Ballentine family have any problem renewing its lease. As for "The Diamond" Brian and Jimmy are not even the majority owners don't sit here and make it sound like they were planning on walking away they were going to work with others to add and or keep another old restaurant in the Plaza-Midwood community. By stealing the Penguin out from under them you also cut there income, it must be nice to be rich getting richer when the small guy does all the work and gets the short end of the stick in the long run. I for one will never give the new Penguin, Mo's, The Flying Saucer, or Monkey Joe's a single dime of my money. A Horse thief of the wild west were shot or strung up, we can not do this in this day and age however we can refuse to spend our money on there products and deal them a blow in the only way we can. Boycott all there businesses and let them know how you feel.

RayRay

Ken Vuncannon said...

Support page started for The Penguin:
http://www.famefoundry.com/save-the-penguin/