After nearly two years of operation Rae’s Restaurant, the casual bistro on Bannerman Road has closed for good.
A letter posted on the door with a signature from owner Jesse Edmunds of Seven Hills Hospitality signals the end of the bistro’s run.
Its final day of operation was July 26.
“This summer was especially tough for Rae’s, but other venues remained strong, with new opportunities on the horizon. As we look toward fall, we’re choosing to shift our focus,” he said. “Sometimes growth doesn’t mean opening more doors. It means making the ones you have stronger, healthier and more sustainable.”
The restaurateur has been very candid about his struggle’s with establishing Rae’s. This April he told the Tallahassee Democrat in an interview that the restaurant was slipping through the cracks, falling short of the reputation the prolific hospitality group has garnered.
To address these concerns the restaurant was semi-turned inside out with its new menu approach and decor revamp as a way to refresh the concept, which he told the Tallahassee Democrat on July 29, was well received but not enough traffic to sustain it.
Despite these efforts, Edmunds said he is happy to reprioritize “where to focus my energy and fight.”
He and the rest of the Seven Hills team are excited about shifting their focus and pouring into their other ventures.
The Seven Hills Hospitality Group is the force behind the Liberty Bar and the Hawthorn Bistro & Bakery, both located at 1307 N. Monroe St.; The Black Radish, 1304 N. Monroe St.; LINK Sausages & Beer, 1303 Thomasville Road; and Bar 1903, 209 E. Park Ave.
Edmund told the Tallahassee Democrat in an interview July 29 that the growth of his other ventures has been exponential with new partnerships, investment, community events and pop-ups on the horizon so much so that he needed all hands on deck. Employees at Rae’s have been shifted to his “core 5” concepts.
This is the second Seven Hills Hospitality concept to close this year. Mexican eatery El Cocinero shuttered in January to make way for the groups newest addition LINK Sausages & Beer which he credits for introducing the group to new partnerships and opportunities.
This article contains previously reported information. Kyla A Sanford covers dining and entertainment for the Tallahassee Democrat. New restaurant opening up, special deals, or events coming up? Let me know at ksanford@tallahassee.com. You can also email your suggestions for a future TLH Eats restaurant profile.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee restaurant closure: Rae’s Restaurant on Bannerman Road closes for good
Reporting by Kyla A Sanford, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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