Jose Garces going to the casinos
Jose Garces plans to expand his empire beyond Philly and Chicago with branches of Amada and Distrito in Atlantic City and Amada in Vegas.
How far Jose Garces has come in his seven years in Philadelphia, and now he'll going the casino route, first in Las Vegas and then in Atlantic City.
Garces told me that he has plans for a branch of Amada at the Fontainebleau under construction in Vegas (late 2009) and branches of Amada and Distrito at the Revel project up for 2010 in Frantic City.
These will follow his current projects: Chifa (a Peruvian-Chinese concept) to open around New Year's at 707 Chestnut St., and Village Whiskey (that's what he plans to call his upscale whiskey bar featuring high-end burgers, American cheese plates, bar snacks and creative cocktail list), next to Tinto at the northwest corner of 20th and Sansom Streets; this decidedly non-Latin venture is up for January or February.
The Chicago-bred Garces arrived with celeb chef Douglas Rodriguez at the opening of Alma de Cuba, the Walnut Street Latin. After great notice, Alma owner Stephen Starr moved him to El Vez, the Wash West Mexican. He parted company with Starr in 2005 to open Amada, Tinto and Distrito, and earlier this year Mercat a la Planza in Chicago.