A Sea Of Red

http://www2.newsadvance.com/business/20 ... r-2164548/

Change may be on the horizon for The Crown, a Lynchburg institution that’s been open in the city for more than 40 years but hasn’t served a meal since Aug. 18 and likely won’t serve another one until at least mid-fall.

The Fort Avenue restaurant had closed temporarily in mid-August when its executive chef, Mary Ott, left town for her grandmother’s funeral.

Owners Bob Miller and Roger Ott, who purchased the former Crown Sterling in December 2010, subsequently decided to keep the restaurant closed until they choose a viable next step for the business, Roger Ott said on Thursday.

Mary Ott said Thursday she’s been working to secure the necessary financing since late July, and was hoping to close on the property in late September.

After attending her grandmother’s funeral in Philadelphia last week and hearing about the owners’ decision to close The Crown into the fall, Ott said she was inspired to re-launch the restaurant as 511 Porter, her grandmother’s address.

“My whole life I’ve been meeting at 511 Porter for food and family,” she said.

Mary Ott said she’d like to renovate the restaurant and add a lounge.

Something tells me she has an in with the owners

She is the owner's estranged wife. Seems they are still onfriendly terms though.

Having worked in an upscale restaurant in college, I hope the Crown bounces back. However, my one and only experience there was awful. That place is extremely dated, and the vent over the grill wasn't working properly, so my eyes were burning and my clothes smelled like I had cooked my meal by the time we left. My steak however, was excellent (can't say much about the salad bar or sides though), and the service was exceptional. Definitely in need of a upgrade, and I think the business model to have more moderately priced items may work. Hate to see landmark establishments close down.

The Crown was still the go-to place for a romantic dinner in the late 90's-early 2000's. The last time I went was probably 2004 and I could tell it was slipping a bit at that point. With many more options to choose from now, they have to re-make themselves if they want to survive.

ECUnited wrote:Having worked in an upscale restaurant in college, I hope the Crown bounces back. However, my one and only experience there was awful. That place is extremely dated, and the vent over the grill wasn't working properly, so my eyes were burning and my clothes smelled like I had cooked my meal by the time we left. My steak however, was excellent (can't say much about the salad bar or sides though), and the service was exceptional. Definitely in need of a upgrade, and I think the business model to have more moderately priced items may work. Hate to see landmark establishments close down.

That was a great place too

adam42381 wrote:The Crown was still the go-to place for a romantic dinner in the late 90's-early 2000's. The last time I went was probably 2004 and I could tell it was slipping a bit at that point. With many more options to choose from now, they have to re-make themselves if they want to survive.

The Crown... Because nothing says upscale or romantic like a salad bar.

rogers3 wrote:The Crown... Because nothing says upscale or romantic like a salad bar.

Thats what I have always said, yet the crown kept winning here on FF.

The place was dingy & drab a quarter century ago. Unless they had some major makeovers in the interim then I agree wholeheartedly with you guys.

I never voted for Em. But until I discovered wedge salads I always liked a good salad bar. New Lindon Steak house is nice too.

Purple Haize wrote:I never voted for Em. But until I discovered wedge salads I always liked a good salad bar. New Lindon Steak house is nice too.

New Lindon... never heard of it. I teach a Marketing Research class; Crown Sterling was a ten minute topic in class today. Last week I got Bloop into the mix out of respect for Proto.

Its a new place. Out of towners call it New London