Matt Frye/Sun GazetteIn the reflection of the entrance doors to the Power Plant Restaurant and Brewery in Parkville an old customer says he’s standing outside to pick up his mugs Monday, Oct. 6. The establishment closed its doors for business Oct. 2.
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Economic downturn claims Parkville eatery
By Michael Westblade
As officials in Washington, D.C., sparred over how to fix the crisis on Wall Street, Parkville felt its own share of the economic downturn, ironically enough, on Main Street.
The Power Plant Restaurant and Brewery closed its doors Oct. 2 and quietly shut down, offering only a sign on the front door to explain the sudden and unexpected closing.
“The Power Plant Restaurant and Brewery is closed indefinitely.”
According to Angelo Gangai, general manager, the restaurant was forced to shut down because they just weren’t turning a profit anymore.
“The economy caught up with us and downtown Parkville,” he said. “We weren’t able to keep a profit in these economic conditions. The business is closed, and we’re examining our options for now.”
As the national economy suffers, Ward 1 Alderman Deborah Butcher said, it’s bound to trickle down to Parkville and the closing of the Power Plant had a lot to do with that.
“We are in the midst of really challenging economic times and small businesses are always the first to feel that,” she said. “I think the next few years will be truly challenging to downtown Parkville, because it’s mostly small business owners and they don’t have the resources to fall back on.”
While Gangai and Butcher see the restaurant as a casualty of the economy, Bill Quitmeier, president of the Parkville Chamber of Commerce, sees another perpetrator.
The closing of the Power Plant, Quitmeier said, is part of a larger problem in downtown Parkville and it has more to do with over development than the economy.
“I don’t think you can blame this on the stock market,” he said. “We’ve promoted economic development and now there’s so much more competition for these businesses. We keep putting up these little strip malls and that kind of stuff and it’s just hurting existing businesses. It took two years to tear down the hills and build The Tuileries and what did we get for it? Empty shops in downtown Parkville.”
But, regardless of the reasons, Parkville has lost a landmark and there won’t be any tearful goodbyes. Gangai said everyone is moving on and there won’t be any farewell events.
“The landlord won’t give us the time,” he said. “He wants us out in two weeks. There won’t be any farewell or goodbye parties; we’re going out with a whimper, not with a bang.”
Staff writer Michael Westblade can be reached at 389-6636 or michaelwestblade@npgco.com.
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The Power Plant Restaurant and Brewery closed its doors Oct. 2 and quietly shut down, offering only a sign on the front door to explain the sudden and unexpected closing.
“The Power Plant Restaurant and Brewery is closed indefinitely.”
According to Angelo Gangai, general manager, the restaurant was forced to shut down because they just weren’t turning a profit anymore.
“The economy caught up with us and downtown Parkville,” he said. “We weren’t able to keep a profit in these economic conditions. The business is closed, and we’re examining our options for now.”
As the national economy suffers, Ward 1 Alderman Deborah Butcher said, it’s bound to trickle down to Parkville and the closing of the Power Plant had a lot to do with that.
“We are in the midst of really challenging economic times and small businesses are always the first to feel that,” she said. “I think the next few years will be truly challenging to downtown Parkville, because it’s mostly small business owners and they don’t have the resources to fall back on.”
While Gangai and Butcher see the restaurant as a casualty of the economy, Bill Quitmeier, president of the Parkville Chamber of Commerce, sees another perpetrator.
The closing of the Power Plant, Quitmeier said, is part of a larger problem in downtown Parkville and it has more to do with over development than the economy.
“I don’t think you can blame this on the stock market,” he said. “We’ve promoted economic development and now there’s so much more competition for these businesses. We keep putting up these little strip malls and that kind of stuff and it’s just hurting existing businesses. It took two years to tear down the hills and build The Tuileries and what did we get for it? Empty shops in downtown Parkville.”
But, regardless of the reasons, Parkville has lost a landmark and there won’t be any tearful goodbyes. Gangai said everyone is moving on and there won’t be any farewell events.
“The landlord won’t give us the time,” he said. “He wants us out in two weeks. There won’t be any farewell or goodbye parties; we’re going out with a whimper, not with a bang.”
Staff writer Michael Westblade can be reached at 389-6636 or michaelwestblade@npgco.com.