EAST VILLAGE — A plan to bring a bar named for a Nelson Algren novel to the former Club Foot spot by the owners of Bridgeport-based Maria's Packaged Goods and Community Bar has fallen through due to issues with the lease that were "not able to be resolved equitably," the partners behind the project said on Tuesday.
"It is with much personal disappointment to inform those most interested that the Golden Arms grouping who sought to develop the property at 1824 W. Augusta [aka the Club Foot] has decided to no longer further pursue the project," said The Golden Arms team Mike Marszewski and Joseph Bryl in a statement.
The formal news comes after Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) announced Monday to members of the East Village Association that the group had pulled out.
The building's owner, Scott Gray, could not be reached for comment to confirm Marszewski and Bryl's claims that "after much concerted effort, the Golden Arms group and the landlord were ultimately unable to agree on the final points of the lease's length and hours of operation."
Marszewski and Bryl thanked all of those who supported their project, specifically Moreno and his staff, the West Town Chamber of Commerce and "all the local individuals and neighbors who resoundingly and overwhelmingly voted online supporting our project."
Meanwhile, though the plan had gotten lots of online support, those living closest to the property had concerns and were not on board with the necessary zoning changes and lifting of a longstanding liquor moratorium that would be required.
Catherine Garypie, who lives on Augusta Boulevard across from the former Club Foot, circulated a hard copy petition (not online) that opposed a tavern use. The petition was signed by 38 residential neighbors within one block of the parcel.
Moreno had previously said that the input from people who live in close proximity to 1824 W. Augusta Blvd. would be closely considered.
Club Foot's owner, Lauree Rohrig, who ran the bar with her husband, Chuck Uchida, who were hoping to sell their business and liquor license to Marszewski and Bryl, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
"There is a lot of red tape; I'm not holding my breath. The current buyer was an old customer. I would rather see [Marszewski] succeed there than another sports bar or bro-hole," Rohrig said last month.
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