Ruby Slipper suspends work on Gainesville location
Press release from Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group and Butler Plaza
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group has paused opening its proposed location in Butler Town Center in Gainesville. Originally planned for later this year at 3630 SW 32nd Ct., the location was slated to be the New Orleans-based eatery’s fourth Florida restaurant, but first outside of the Panhandle.
“We genuinely appreciate the partnership we had with Butler Enterprises as we prepared to spread our love of brunch further south in The Sunshine State,” said Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group CEO Elizabeth McGee. “Unfortunately, we encountered operational complexities with the planned Gainesville location. In light of this, the best business decision for us at this time is to continue our expansion efforts in closer proximity to our existing locations.”
For now, Ruby Slipper is shifting its focus to upcoming openings in Metairie, Louisiana, and Columbia, South Carolina. The popular brunch brand intends to resume its growth in Florida soon, adding to its current restaurants in Pensacola, Destin, and Miramar Beach.
“We support their decision to pause a Gainesville location,” said President & CEO Deborah Butler. “We respect the redirection to focus on a proper support structure to ensure consistent quality and service for their customers.”
The original Ruby Slipper Café opened in New Orleans over 14 years ago and has since expanded with Ruby Slipper and Ruby Sunshine locations across Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Could it be they found the taxes and utility rates were not conducive for their vision?
You voted for it, you got it; My first thought exactly.
Most likely looked into all of the local city commission actions and requirements (food bins, straws, taxes, violent crime rate tolerated, attracting homeless, etc.) then reviewed economics of land taxes and utilities and found it wouldn’t take much to be unprofitable.
They must have clicked those ruby slippers together and said, “This is no place like home…no place like home…”
The press release writer doesn’t know the proper use of farther and further.
You’re probably right. The further left these local leaders go, the farther common sense people and businesses want to get away.
Apparently you were able to understand the post.
Why open a new restaurant in anti-business, pro-crime, pro-homeless, and pro-tax Gainesville?
You’d have a better shot in San Francisco.
They can always hire that excavator thief to knock the building down.
Maybe they found out about GRU and property tax rates, among *other* things here?