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Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Alison at Blue Bell is closed

Chef Alison Barshak is now telling customers that she's officially closed Alison at Blue Bell -- her six-year-old BYOB, which had been closed since Oct. 22 awaiting kitchen repairs.

She vows to redouble her efforts at her newer restaurant, Alison two in Fort Washington.

On Tuesday (11/10), her corporation for Alison two filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

The voluntary petition lists between 50 and 99 creditors. It states $100,000 to $500,000 in assets and between $1 million and $10 million in debts.

Her attorney, Albert A. Ciardi III, said Alison at Blue Bell's assets would be liquidated. "By refocusing on Fort Washington, she'll make it. The sales are there, the business is there. She's honoring her gift certificates and parties." 

She prepared a letter, though it doesn't address the bankruptcy (unless you count the phrase "reorganization process"):

As some of you may already know, the past 12 months have been bittersweet for me, both professionally and personally. I saw the culmination of our team's hard work, with the opening of Alison two and its "Best of Philly" award, as well as the 6th anniversary of Alison at Blue Bell. The year also brought something very sad and sobering to my personal life, the death of my father.

After serious thought, I've decided to close Alison at Blue Bell. Although this was never my intention, it's become a necessary, albeit, sad choice. Although I feel I cannot adequately express the great sense of loss I feel in the wake of closing the doors on Alison at Blue Bell, I am heartened to know I will now be able to shift my full focus to Alison two. Please know it is my intention to honor all outstanding Alison at Blue Bell Gift Certificates at Alison two.

While Alison at Blue Bell is shutting its doors, Alison two is embarking upon an exciting reorganization process. Our customers can look forward to the same seamless dining experience they've come to expect from Alison two and our intensely professional staff. Parties already booked or yet to come will go forward as planned with the utmost care and attention to detail.

We look forward to seeing you at the restaurant!

All the best,
Alison

Posted by Michael Klein @ 7:52 PM  Permalink | File Under: TableTalk | 7 comments
Comments   
Posted 08:31 AM, 11/11/2009
shorebabe
Has anyone looked at her track record? Hard to believe that Alison is still leaving contractors and using friends for her pie in the sky dreams. She went down the tubes with Venus and the Cowboy and has left her path of destruction along the way. The arrogant disregard in which she seems to show leaves me scratching my head in disbelief. She needs to be held accountable for her debts, anyone else would be in jail.
Posted 10:24 AM, 11/11/2009
Dutch of N
Wow. Tough crowd. I guess any posts about over-priced food wouldn't have the same impact after the first two posts.
Posted 10:32 AM, 11/11/2009
flamingo
I agree. How do you close a restaurant and leave your creditors holding the bag and still have another one that is in business? Innocent victims are the people she owes money!! Pay up Allison!!
Posted 01:23 PM, 11/11/2009
TruthtoFools
Alison is extremely hard-working. Can you imagine having to give up something you worked six years to build? The idea that she would close the restaurant just to stiff creditors is ridiculous.
Posted 02:12 PM, 11/11/2009
TELL.THE.TRUTH
FUNNY HOW CERTAIN POSTS GOT ERASED AND 1 GOOD POST FINALLY APPEARS. FACT IS ALISON YET A VERY GOOD COOK, BUT A VERY VERY BAD BIZZNESS WOMEN AND TO ADD IN HER VERY WEAK MANAGERS, EQUALS CHAPTER 11.
Posted 03:25 PM, 11/11/2009
shorebabe
.Maybe the person that feels empathy for Alison is not owed any money. BlaBlaBla, she is hard working, so are all the people that did work for her and now are not getting paid. She should be glad her restaurant was not in South Philly, they break legs for much less. How many times can one go chapter 11? Should we now try other numbers 13 or 7?
Posted 03:36 PM, 11/12/2009
TELL.THE.TRUTH
L
7 comments
About Michael Klein
Michael Klein chronicles local people, places and things (in easy-to-digest portions) three days a week in his Inquirer column "INQlings." He also covers the restaurant scene in his Thursday Food column, "Table Talk." See his work at http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_klein.
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