The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Elliot's Fair Grounds keeps on perking, but without Elliot.
Elliot Juren, the curmudgeonly kibitzer of Colley Avenue, has sold his 10-year-old coffeehouse in Ghent to Todd Arnette, the owner of Williamsburg Coffee & Tea.
Both declined to disclose the sale price. Arnette took over the second-floor shop Sunday.
Juren had been a fixture in the Ghent eating and drinking scene for nearly 35 years. He opened Elliot's Fair Grounds, then one of the city's first independent coffee shops, on Baldwin Avenue in late 2001. He had run a restaurant, also bearing his first name, around the corner on Colley Avenue from 1978 to 1998.
Juren, who described himself as "irascible yet lovable," said the job involved "a lot of schlepping and paying bills and sitting around shooting the breeze with people."
"The business is still viable, but it needs some new energy," Juren, 65, said Thursday. "It needs to have a new infusion, and I didn't think I was the guy to do it."
Arnette said he won't change the name of the store. "The main reason," he said, "is I've been custom-blending and roasting coffee for Elliot's since before he opened."
The staff also will stay the same, said Diana Ray, the shop's manager for the past nine years. "The only person leaving is Elliot, but he came in yesterday for coffee. You can't get him out of here."
Arnette and Ray said Fair Grounds would expand its efforts in the sustainability and "buy local" movements. The store soon will begin using compostable cups and will expand its offerings of locally owned baked goods, Arnette said.
In addition, the shop will feature more teas from his company and will get an Italian-style espresso machine.
"The changes that we're going to experience are evolutionary, not revolutionary," said Arnette, who also owns a coffee shop at the College of William and Mary known as the Grind.
Elliot's has faced increasing competition, not just from Starbucks outlets but from a growing number of independent coffeehouses. "With the other coffee shops opening up," Ray said, "we're like the grandmother, and we're getting a new hairdo."
Juren said he wasn't sure this would be his last venture.
"I think I'm way too vibrant and energetic to sit around," he said, "but I don't know if I'll start another business. I'm not a kid."
Philip Walzer, (757) 222-3864, phil.walzer@pilotonline.com
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I miss the old Elliots near the NARO
I remember eating there in the 1980s. It was a big restaurant with an awesome retro art deco feel to it. Really liked that place.
"With the other coffee shops
"With the other coffee shops opening up," Ray said, "we're like the grandmother, and we're getting a new hairdo."
I'm sorry but even when My grandmothers put on a new dress, did their makeup and hair, they still smelled like a grandma.
Things that people consider classics stay the way they are. If they do not have that special something they will never match up and compete no mater what gimmicks are attempted.
Ghentites want local owners, good food, and good coffee.
I get my coffee where they meet all three.
When I walk in the door I smell roasting coffee, not my granny!
Norfolk City Council
Elliot--How about a run for City Council. I recall signing your petition several years ago even though I strongly supported another candidate. Lots of h2o has flowed over Norfolk's dam since then--some rather polluted. The timing is better now, and I would likely support you as I sense what you stand for and believe in. But don't come asking for money. I am retired and no budget for campaigns, but I do have time. Think about it.
We loved Elliot's restaurant!
To this day, when in Ghent, I always think about Elliot's Restaurant. We had so many great memories there. It was one of the few places that we would drive from the beach to go to. How about opening up a smaller easier to manage version? We along with many that we know would be there!
roasted
they can smell the competition brewing, as they should. the only thing really going for is parking and location. the last time i went, and i hope they have changed this ridiculous policy since, they had a $20 minimum charge to use credit. i'm not a banker but i'm pretty sure that's in violation of visa's merchant rules. the conveniently placed ATM next to the cash register or the 'you can buy a gift card and use it that way!' was a nice sidestep the fact that the consumer is getting the short end of the stick. thanks but no thanks "fairgrounds". the coffee at cafe stella is better anyways.
Agreed
The only two times I've been there (separated by at least a year) I was dismayed by the minimum charge and the ATM next to the register. Those gray ATMs not only charge sometimes egregious fees to the consumer, the merchant gets a percentage of each transaction. Kickbacks in exchange for consumers' ignorance.
From MasterCard (section 5.11.3 in Chapter 15 of the PDF):
http://www.mastercard.com/us/merchant/pdf/BM-Entire_Manual_public.pdf
From Visa (on their 'Visa Viewpoints' blog):
http://blog.visa.com/2010/09/02/minimizing-confusion-over-minimums
$20 is excessive, but $10 is OK. So, either buy $10 worth of coffee or take out a minimum $20, and throw in a $2 fee. I prefer Borjo, and Stella is tasty too.
Violating Credit Terms
Merchants can only impose up to a $10 minimum on purchases made with a credit card so Fairgrounds is definitely in violation. You can contact your credit card company to inform them that the merchant is doing this. My husband and I really wanted to like this place, but between the uninspired coffee and the outrageous placement of an atm inside, we'd rather support a different local coffee shop.
curmudgeonly kibitzer?
curmudgeonly kibitzer? really?
I'm reminded of the Sonny and Cher Song, "The Beat Goes On"
Elliott is Mr. Ghent, The current face of Ghent is a direct reflection of his contributions; First ELLIOT's Resturant, then after he sells that, He Open the Fairgrounds in the Space Vacated by GYPSY D Jeweler's and accessories, then he shares that space with his wife who bring's in 'TEXTURE' to fill the void of Gifts and accessories, many other establishments have come and gone in GHENT but Elliott is a fixture that will continue to influence and contribute to the area's unique Beat. I'm sure he's not retiring, he's just changed to a diferent wave to ride... and the beat goes on.. Thank Goodness
incredible
As I wish good fortune to the man whose restaurant - the old, tiny one - I used to haunt, the amazing thing is that he'd just turned 30. I thought he was 62 then.