Downtown staple Palace Cafe suddenly closes its doors over legal dispute

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A downtown New Orleans staple, Palace Cafe, closed its doors at its Canal Street location on Monday.

Dickie Brennan’s Palace Cafe abruptly closed pending the outcome of a legal process.

In a statement from Dickie Brennan & Co. they said that the 35-year lease in the historic former Werlein’s building came to end.

“Dickie Brennan & Co. intended to purchase the property, an option stipulated in this lease, but a last-minute court ruling concerning this lease agreement made it no longer fiscally responsible to continue to operate the restaurant until the ruling is clarified or appealed,” the statement reads.

Palace Cafe opened in 1991 and became the anchor establishment of Dickie Brennan & Co.

In 1997, Dickie Brennan & Co. was established by Dickie Brennan and fellow owners and Managing Partners Lauren Brennan Brower and Steve Pettus. Dickie Brennan and Lauren Brennan Brower are third-generation restauranteurs of the famous Brennan family.

“All leases come to an end. We intended to proceed with purchasing the 605 Canal Street property from the Werlein family, but the disparity in the owners’ assessed value versus ours was simply too great. We are in the process of clarifying or appealing the court’s ruling, and one possible outcome is that Palace Cafe could reopen here at its original Canal Street location. Or should the right location or opportunity come along, we would be interested in reimagining and reopening Palace Cafe in a different location, Steve Pettus, Dickie Brennan & Co. managing partner said.

“My sister Lauren Brennan Brower, partner Steve Pettus, and I have a three decades of memories and family occasions at Palace Café. Over these 34 years, millions of diners have broken bread with us here on Canal Street. We’ve had the honor of sharing our passion for hospitality with these guests as well as our thousands of team members who trained and worked in our historic building. Although we are saddened to so suddenly have to close the doors, we are optimistic about a next chapter for Palace Café on Canal Street, or elsewhere in our city. Don’t count us out yet,” Dickie Brennan, Managing Partner said.

Dickie Brennan & Co. Family of Restaurants include Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, Bourbon House, Tableau, Acorn Cafe, The Commissary Market + Kitchen in New Orleans’ Garden District, Pascal’s Manale, Audubon Clubhouse, Bellegarde Bakery and The Josephine on Napoleon.

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