The Augusta Restaurant is moving from its original spot in Oxford to the Iowa City location that previously housed Ride, Sunny and Lou Henri restaurants.
"We apologize to our Oxford friends for such a quick turnaround and truly appreciate your patronage," a post read Thursday on the restaurant's Facebook site. "This move will ensure we are accessible to more folks all year round as we will be open more hours, there is a bigger kitchen for catering and brunch three days a week. We also have a wonderful patio for our Mardi Gras Celebrations."
Co-owners Jeri and Ben Halperin say they hope to have their restaurant -- which already was closed for a winter vacation -- relocated to 630 Iowa Ave. and open for business by early February.
"Someone wanted to see us move to Iowa City and made us an offer that we couldn't refuse," Jeri Halperin said Thursday night.
The location on the northwest corner of Iowa Avenue and Dodge Street most recently housed the bicycle-themed restaurant Ride, which closed its doors Dec. 31, 2015, after a little more than a year in business. Managing partner and general manager Tom "Roc" Kemmerer said at the time that a current partner would stay on at the location and start a new restaurant.
Before that, the building had housed Lou Henri restaurant, which changed its name to Sunny restaurant in 2012 after a change in ownership.
The Halperins began Augusta Restaurant in Oxford in 2007, about two years after leaving a hurricane-damaged New Orleans. After trying out a few cities across the country, the couple decided to set down Cajun-flavored roots in the Hawkeye landscape.
Ben Halperin was voted one of the country's top 40 chefs under 40 by the Mother Nature Network in 2014 and the restaurant's tenderloin was voted the best in Iowa in 2008 by the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
"Our lovingly prepared food and service will remain our top priority, and don't worry, all Augusta gift certificates will be honored," the Facebook post reads. "Please share this post to spread the word, and remember. 'Laissez les bons temps rouler!' (Let the good times roll!)"
http://www.press-citizen.com/story/...locating-former-lou-henri-ride-site/78814388/
"We apologize to our Oxford friends for such a quick turnaround and truly appreciate your patronage," a post read Thursday on the restaurant's Facebook site. "This move will ensure we are accessible to more folks all year round as we will be open more hours, there is a bigger kitchen for catering and brunch three days a week. We also have a wonderful patio for our Mardi Gras Celebrations."
Co-owners Jeri and Ben Halperin say they hope to have their restaurant -- which already was closed for a winter vacation -- relocated to 630 Iowa Ave. and open for business by early February.
"Someone wanted to see us move to Iowa City and made us an offer that we couldn't refuse," Jeri Halperin said Thursday night.
The location on the northwest corner of Iowa Avenue and Dodge Street most recently housed the bicycle-themed restaurant Ride, which closed its doors Dec. 31, 2015, after a little more than a year in business. Managing partner and general manager Tom "Roc" Kemmerer said at the time that a current partner would stay on at the location and start a new restaurant.
Before that, the building had housed Lou Henri restaurant, which changed its name to Sunny restaurant in 2012 after a change in ownership.
The Halperins began Augusta Restaurant in Oxford in 2007, about two years after leaving a hurricane-damaged New Orleans. After trying out a few cities across the country, the couple decided to set down Cajun-flavored roots in the Hawkeye landscape.
Ben Halperin was voted one of the country's top 40 chefs under 40 by the Mother Nature Network in 2014 and the restaurant's tenderloin was voted the best in Iowa in 2008 by the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
"Our lovingly prepared food and service will remain our top priority, and don't worry, all Augusta gift certificates will be honored," the Facebook post reads. "Please share this post to spread the word, and remember. 'Laissez les bons temps rouler!' (Let the good times roll!)"
http://www.press-citizen.com/story/...locating-former-lou-henri-ride-site/78814388/
