It looks like Menlo Park Mayor Betsy Nash jumped the gun in announcing that Original Joe’s would be taking over the vacant Left Bank Brasserie restaurant at 635 Santa Cruz Ave.
It might be more accurate to say they’re interested in the Left Bank space.
Original Joe’s spokeswoman Sarah Nardolillo told the Post they haven’t signed a lease.
“As you can imagine, these processes take time and involve several steps, and we’re continuing to navigate those details,” Nardolillo said in an email to the Post.
Mayor Nash announced the arrival of Original Joe’s in her newsletter on Saturday. Her announcement came just before Menlo Park residents voted on Measure P, which would prohibit the city’s development of downtown parking lots without voter approval. Because of Measure P, the state of downtown has become an election issue. Saying that Original Joe’s was coming to Santa Cruz Avenue would have represented a “win” for Nash and the rest of council that has been under the gun by supporters of Measure P over the number of vacancies along Santa Cruz.
Downtown businesses put Measure P on the ballot to stop the city from building public housing projects on downtown parking lots, which would make parking more difficult for shoppers.
Other downtown arrivals mentioned by Nash include:
• Goodwill Boutique at 711 Santa Cruz Ave. will become MPower Yoga, which will offer training.
• Steve and Lulu, a dog spa, playground and shop, will replace Ruby and Flegel’s Home Furnishings at 714 Santa Cruz Ave.
• A pizza restaurant called Slice House will replace the Pet Place and Rug Center at 775-777 Santa Cruz Ave.
Original Joe’s is a Bay Area chain of family Italian restaurants, founded in San Francisco in 1937.
Original Joe’s features an open exhibition kitchen, red leather booths, smooth cocktails and hearty Italian-American comfort food served in a bustling, retro atmosphere.
Signature dishes include chicken parmigiana, Joe’s Famous Hamburger Sandwich, housemade ravioli and baked lasagna and fried zucchini.
The Left Bank closed in June after a 28-year run in Menlo Park. General Manager Roderick Sevilla said the costs of labor were the biggest challenge for the French restaurant.
The Left Bank had problems making money with Menlo Park’s $17.55 minimum wage — a wage level set by City Council.
“The margins are so little on a restaurant of this size, you can’t maintain being in the red,” Sevilla said.
“Every restaurant in the entire Bay Area is feeling this type of pressure,” Sevilla said in June.
Vine Hospitality, the Left Bank’s parent company also closed restaurants in Tiburon, Larkspur, San Ramon and Santana Row.
Be the first to comment