As our Town was filled with love for local businessman Thomas Keller at last week’s Local’s Appreciation Party for Appreciating the Chef, some interesting details are starting to emerge about his potential for two new local businesses. First, the home next to the French Laundry (where Thomas’ father once resided) is being converted into the French Laundry Bar. The house is currently in the Residential Scaled Commercial District, so it can be a business. So the business that TKRG (Thomas Keller Restaurant Group) has chosen will be solely for those paying their appreciation at the French Laundry.
Then you have the restaurant space in Town that has been sitting vacant for over three years, the former Perry Lang’s at the Estates. We were all a bit excited when the new owner stated he was looking far and wide to fill the spot and get it re-opened. The current rumor is maybe he didn’t go too far; Thomas Keller is at the top of the list. Even more interesting is that the restaurant will be fashioned after the now-closed TAK Room in the Hudson Yards, New York. Any guesses on the price point? I’ll let you click through to the menu and see for yourself. Don’t kid yourself; no surprises here. This reviewer nailed my thoughts exactly when discussing the closure of the restaurant. “Couldn’t Keller have given the city a more creative, affordable, or even non-European approach to gastronomy?” The similarities between the Yards and Yountville are interesting.
Don’t get me wrong; I like the teams working at his different restaurants in Yountville and frequent them. I just want Local Appreciation to be more than one day every ten years.