John Kavanaugh announced that he plans to reopen The Esquire Club tomorrow after Craig Spaulding, who purchased the supper club from him one year ago, abruptly closed the restaurant last week, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Kavanaugh’s family owned the east side establishment for 77 years before he sold it with the intent to retire.
The restaurant is expected to open by 11 a.m. on Friday for lunch service. Kavanaugh applied for a liquor license on Tuesday and said he is “rounding up the staff” and placing orders to “be ready for the first Friday of Lent,” when Friday night fish fries anticipate greater than usual numbers of patrons due to Catholic observances.
Kavanaugh said Ald. Amani Latimer Burris helped him to reobtain his liquor license in record time. He also said Spaulding violated his lease by falling behind on rent and that his investors turned on him.
According to Kavanaugh, he did not have to buy the business back from Spaulding because “he defaulted on the lease,” which Kavanaugh said he subsequently terminated.
Mike Parks, a cook at the supper club, said employees were paid Monday, though not all in full.
