Coming soon to 2612 East 14th Street: Sagdiana Restaurant. A culinary feast of Uzbek, Caucasian, Russian and French cousins. I, personally, don’t have any French cousins that I know of, but I sure do hope that, if I do, Sagdiana hunts them down, kills them, and serves them to me with a fancy-shmancy cream sauce.
The above sign appeared this week at 2612 East 14th Street, the former home of Cafe L’Azur, confirming our suspicions that the 2.5 year old restaurant is closed. It’s cut off in the photo, but the sign notes Sagdiana will have all new management. No word yet on when they’ll be open, but we took a peak inside and it seems just about fully furnished. We’re looking forward to our new neighbors.
Remember way, way back in the halcyon days of November 2009, when we first (and last) wrote about Cafe L’Azur (2612 East 14th Street)? The little Eastern European restaurant was just a year old around that time, and we found they had been prodding around Craigslist trying to find a buyer for the business. Of course, they denied the whole thing…
And so they stayed open for another year and a half or so. Then, earlier this week, the signs were pulled down, the exterior redone, and it looks like the place is empty.
Still, we can’t say for sure if they’re closed for good or not. The only thing that remains is a neon “Open” sign that is unlit, but it could simply be for renovations. We’ll keep an eye on it to see if it ever lights up again.
Last week we set you off on a guessing game of which Sheepshead Bay restaurant was selling its business on Craigslist. Was it sushi? El Greco? A strip club?!
Nope.
Reader “Local Broker” had to go off and spoil the fun with his early – and accurate – answer: “East 14th and Z near the library.” He was, of course, talking about Cafe L’Azur at 2612 East 14th Street. So when we have our eventual meetup, Local Broker will get his reward: a hug… or something.
While the number attached to the Craiglist post did indeed go to L’Azur, an owner named Dimitry denied the whole thing. It’s possible that’s because, minutes before, we were in the restaurant asking him face to face. He denied it then, too, and had no knowledge of any Craigslist post. But when we talked over the phone, he admitted he did know about the post, but didn’t know who put it up or why, and that the business was not for sale.
“We’ve only been open for a year. We’re not selling it,” were his words.
But one reader who is interested in buying the business told us that he called and spoke to an owner as well. Not only did they tell him the business was for sale, but they’ve asked him to come in and take a look around. Curiouser and curiouser…
Whatever the situation, it’s definitely weird. Cafe L’Azur did open about a year ago, replacing a florist who had been there for at least a decade. They renovated the spot inside and out. But – perhaps because of poor media relations – they’re now closing. Maybe. Who knows.
Confused yet? Me too.
