Two downtown Waco establishments close
By Mike Copeland
Tribune-Herald staff writer
Downtown Spirits, a liquor store at 106 S. Eighth St., has closed its doors and co-owner John Lewis said he’s talking with several possible buyers for his inventory.
The closing comes as Green Room Grille on Austin Avenue has gone out of business and had its locks changed. The restaurant was located near Downtown Spirits.
Downtown Spirits on South Eighth Street in downtown Waco has closed.
Duane A. Laverty / Waco Tribune-Herald
Lewis, a Waco attorney, and his business partner, Murray Evans, opened Downtown Spirits last April in about 700 square feet of leased space. They sold a full line of beer, wine, whiskey, vodka, tequila, bourbon and other liquors to complement the growing number of restaurants, retail shops and bars in the downtown area.
Lewis on Wednesday stressed that business downtown was OK. He said the shop did not close because of poor sales, but he declined to say specifically why he has decided to go out of business.
He said he remains sold on downtown’s potential, “but it may be a while before I get back into retail.”
Green Room Grille proprietor Davin Hightower signed a lease on the upscale restaurant in 2006 and began serving meals in April 2007.
Tables inside Green Room Grille remain covered with white tablecloths, where silverware, napkins and drinking glasses sit ready for use. But a sign on the door dated Jan. 27 said the locks have been changed and a new key is available only if all past-due amounts are paid.
It was signed by a representative of David Hoppenstein Family Ltd., which owns the space.
“I’m not in a position to keep it going,” Hightower said Wednesday. “It has been a great experience, but 2010 was a tough year for the Grille. We didn’t have enough momentum to carry into the new year.
“I have been told there are people interested in the space,” he added.
Calls to Hoppenstein Properties on Wednesday were not answered and a recording asked callers to leave messages.
“I’ve heard some things about interest in the Green Room Grille location, but nothing is confirmed,” said Chris McGowan, who directs urban development for the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, a tenant has signed a lease on the space between Green Room Grille and Klassy Glass, a wine bar that opened last November at 723 Austin Ave., a local real estate agent said Wednesday.
Kenny Stevens with The Reid Co. said a couple hope to put a coffee shop in that spot by early summer.
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