UPDATE 12/26: The property has been listed for sale.
Just a few days ago, I was driving through Savannah asking myself why so many restaurants are closed on Sundays. Of course, the question was kinda/sorta rhetorical. Despite the fact that I know the reasons, that doesn’t really mean I have to like them.
For all of its growth as a culinary destination, Savannah still can and does feel like a small town sometimes. By Sunday nights, the tourists that are here for the weekend are typically gone. Some of the savvy ones stay an extra night, maybe get a better hotel rate and smaller crowds, but the numbers just don’t justify everyone staying open. Of course, I get it.
So imagine my reaction when just a few days later, I’m told that a popular downtown cantina is closing for the season? Seriously? Yes, seriously.
“Staffing is the main reason.” According to owner Brian Huskey. “Absolutely the ultimate reason.”
The announcement comes as Blowin’ Smoke Southern Cantina (an indoor/outdoor eatery) enters its slowest 2 months of the year on Habersham Street in Savannah.
Brian tells us staffing has been an ongoing issue not only at Blowin’ Smoke, but at any of his Gaslight Group restaurants. The 5 Spot in Habersham Village and B. Matthews Eatery on Bay Street are two of the more popular spots in town, but even they struggle to keep their employee numbers above water.
“We are lucky to have 1 in 10 applicants show up for an interview at B. Matthew’s.” Brian says.
He knows he’s not alone in that regard. Brian has plenty of friends in the industry who remind him that it’s tough to find good help-scratch that-any help on a regular basis.
Try keeping it running smoothly when you have 130 people under your umbrella.
The good news is, all staff at Blowin’ Smoke that wants to be placed at another Gaslight restaurant will be. No one is losing their job going into the holiday season. Blowin’ Smoke will close beginning December 1st.
But what about on the other side of the season?
“Everything is on the table.” Brian says when asked about a concept change going forward. “We’ve had so many taco places open up around us, that kind of hasn’t worked as well. We tried going back to BBQ and that hasn’t worked either.” he says.
The space isn’t going anywhere. The Huskeys own the building and the Habersham corridor is beginning to bubble with activity. Cotton and Rye has been a huge draw to the area. Fork and Dagger Latin Diner is open blocks away, a pizzeria is planned for Habersham at Duffy and even Leopold’s Ice Cream will re-open its original location at Habersham and Gwinnett at some point in the future.
During the winter Brian says they will likely run some catering operations out of the Blowin’ Smoke kitchen. Beyond that, you can be assured there will be a lot of fireside chats this winter about what which way the smoke will be blowing come March 1st.
We’ll keep you posted.
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