@BlogKCMany resaurants are closing down these days. For many, it’s because of the economy. For others, it’s because the city is subsidizing their competitors *cough* P&L *cough* Plaza *cough*
Pangea on West 39th is one such place. This family-owned restaurant is one of the city’s best, and it has been successful without any tax breaks, TIFs, or other help from the city. Until this year it thrived in a plain strip mall just beyond 39th’s restaurant row. Now The Pitch reports that Pangea will closing down at the end of the month. So you only have a few days left to get one last fix of the a world cuisine that features a bit of Argentina, Italy, Cuba, and other delicious food – because Pangea won’t be getting an economic stimulus from Washington nor from City Hall.
I hate seeing local businesses close. Had they been more veg-friendly (vegan/vegetarian options) my friends and I would’ve been supporting them. We swung by a couple times and there was nothing we could eat. We filled out comment cards and left our contact info but didn’t hear back.
The local veg group on meetup.com has nearly 500 members and continues to grow. For every person who goes out of their way to seek out a group to join, there’s many more who don’t. Local restaurants would be wise to offer food that anyone can purchase. More customers, more $$$.
This restaurant has always been a bit of a mismatch for me. The food was great — but the strip mall-ish location didn’t match the food/style of the place. I think they’d have done great if they were further down on 39th, but I just thought it was a bad fit there.
Bummer — because I always wanted that place to do well, even if I ate there very seldom.
I eat there frequently, the food is good and I like it. But the location is bad, the portions are small and a bit pricey, and there haven’t been any tenents (until very recently) in that strip mall.
I think the location & pricing are the more major issues. And it was a mistake to put a strip mall there, especially in that location. it opposes everything on 39th street, and what retail should be on 39th street.
Other restaurants are harmed by the P&L district no doubt, but this restaurant more than likely failed for other reasons.
I didn’t have the best eating experience there, but did like this place and it lasted for longer than i thought it would. I really believe that the location would have killed it off sooner than later, but i’m sure the economy hastened the process.
I’m afraid we’ll start seeing a lot more of this happening to places much closer to my heart.
the spitfire grill is now empty. it would be nice to see something go there. pangea was too pricey for me, but then again most places are.
I won’t miss it. Overpriced for self-serve, and really not that great. And they charge ten bucks for the same dry salami World Market sells for five.
I hate that they have closed I loved that place I used to go often but my husband started a new buisness venture in July and we had not been there as often because we were to busy
I loved the food the people the music and the wine
I admit the place was better at night it needed trees or something in the parking lot
But I loved the place I hope they reopen somewhere else these kids have talent