John Kavanaugh will reportedly be reopening The Esquire Club in Madison, which closed abruptly last week, according to WMTV15. Kavanaugh’s family had owned the establishment for 77 years before it was sold to current owner Craig Spaulding in May 2024.
A sign on the door signed Spaulding Restaurant Enterprises announced the closure on Friday, and a post on the restaurant’s Facebook said that it had closed its doors to in-person dining and off-site catering due to staffing and operational issues. By Friday evening, however, a new sign appeared on the door, reading, “Will be reopening soon under John Kavanaugh with our famous food, cocktails, and friendly service.”
According to Kavanaugh, disagreements between the current owner and investors had led investors to part ways with the business, causing the sudden closure. He said he is “taking the restaurant back” and will “put it back to where it belongs as a neighborhood family supper club … and get it back up to where it needs to be.”
Kavanaugh needs to update the liquor and food licenses of the establishment but intends to reopen the restaurant sometime this week.
