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REDIRECT ALERT! (Scroll down past this mess if you're trying to read an archived post. Thanks. No, really, thanks.)

Due to my inability to control my temper and complacently accept continued silliness with not-quite-as-reliable-as-it-ought-to-be Blogger/Blogspot, your beloved Possumblog will now waddle across the Information Dirt Road and park its prehensile tail at http://possumblog.mu.nu.

This site will remain in place as a backup in case Munuvia gets hit by a bus or something, but I don't think they have as much trouble with this as some places do. ::cough::blogspot::cough:: So click here and adjust your links. I apologize for the inconvenience, but it's one of those things.

Tuesday, December 30, 2003

'Nother one bites the dust--Historic restaurant La Paree closing

SHERRI C. GOODMAN
News staff writer

La Paree, a landmark downtown eatery, will serve its last lunch today after more than 60 years in business, owner Nick Erben said.

Erben's restaurant managed to escape closure earlier this year when two La Paree customers reached a tentative agreement to purchase the building at 2013 Fifth Ave. North. The deal fell through and another potential buyer came forward. That agreement, however, also faced some difficulties, he said.

Meanwhile, the restaurant received two below-par health inspection ratings this month, with some of the violations tied to the condition of the building.

"The building is deteriorating," Erben acknowledged. [...]

The restaurant, once a favorite breakfast and lunch spot for bankers, lawyers, politicians and office workers, claims to be downtown Birmingham's oldest restaurant in the same location. [...]

Sorta sad--if for no other reason than for the history of the place. I've eaten there a couple of times--good food, but not great. The decor is mid-'60s--old, but not old enough to give it that elusive, funky/charming retro "atmosphere". It's just old and shabby.

Birmingham is one of the toughest places around to be in the restaurant business--not for lack of customers, but for the incredible competition. There is great food to be found here to rival anything you can find anywhere--and that's not bragging. Not to say there's not room for the old-style meat and three places--there is--but it darned well better be great.

posted by Terry at 9:09:00 AM

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