The Republic Restaurant & Bar at 2053 W. Broad St. (Photo by David Larter)
The Teflon isn’t just on the pans at the Republic Restaurant & Bar.
The embattled Fan bar reopened Thursday, meaning that Richmond’s most resilient restaurant of the past year has survived two state lockouts for back taxes, a bankruptcy and a lawsuit.
Owner Antonio Hawkins said he’s worked out a deal with the state to begin operating the restaurant again, but he would not give details. Hawkins also came to terms with his former partners at Metro Grill, just a few blocks away from the Republic on North Robinson Street.
In November, Richard Masters and Travis Bacile sued Hawkins, accusing him of withholding profits and inappropriately commingling money from the Republic and Metro Grill.
Keith Pagano, an attorney for Bacile and Masters, confirmed in an email to BizSense that his clients had bought out Hawkins stake in Metro for an undisclosed amount and that they would not go forward with the lawsuit.
Hawkins said business at Republic was decent Thursday, after being closed for more than a week.
“It was a good opening night but an average Thursday,” Hawkins said. “I’d say about 80 percent of the regulars showed up.”
Hawkins said he was using the opportunity to tighten up the ship.
“It was always a [cash-flow] positive restaurant,” he said. “But things weren’t strapped down enough. A lot of money was spent on frivolous things. I think we’ve got things working the way we want them now.”
The Republic Restaurant & Bar at 2053 W. Broad St. (Photo by David Larter)
The Teflon isn’t just on the pans at the Republic Restaurant & Bar.
The embattled Fan bar reopened Thursday, meaning that Richmond’s most resilient restaurant of the past year has survived two state lockouts for back taxes, a bankruptcy and a lawsuit.
Owner Antonio Hawkins said he’s worked out a deal with the state to begin operating the restaurant again, but he would not give details. Hawkins also came to terms with his former partners at Metro Grill, just a few blocks away from the Republic on North Robinson Street.
In November, Richard Masters and Travis Bacile sued Hawkins, accusing him of withholding profits and inappropriately commingling money from the Republic and Metro Grill.
Keith Pagano, an attorney for Bacile and Masters, confirmed in an email to BizSense that his clients had bought out Hawkins stake in Metro for an undisclosed amount and that they would not go forward with the lawsuit.
Hawkins said business at Republic was decent Thursday, after being closed for more than a week.
“It was a good opening night but an average Thursday,” Hawkins said. “I’d say about 80 percent of the regulars showed up.”
Hawkins said he was using the opportunity to tighten up the ship.
“It was always a [cash-flow] positive restaurant,” he said. “But things weren’t strapped down enough. A lot of money was spent on frivolous things. I think we’ve got things working the way we want them now.”