Business

Mean Mr. Mustard's moving across town

By Bill Moss, Published: December 5, 2013

Mean Mr. Mustard's, the Beatles-themed breakfast and lunch café, has closed its doors at Fourth Avenue downtown and plans to reopen at Busy Bend in the 605 Kanuga Road space last occupied by Nib's Coffee Café.

"They were killing themselves trying to run full-service in a restaurant that size," said Jeff Eatherly, the agent who rented the Nib's space to Mean Mr. Mustard's owners, Monte and Diane Rosemond. The Rosemonds plan to switch to counter service at the Kanuga Road location.
The Rosemonds moved from Charlotte in 2009 to open the restaurant named for a John Lennon song from the Beatles' Abbey Road album. They had gained a loyal base of customers for their breakfast service and homemade muffins. They later added lunch.
"Regrettably, our last day of business will be Sunday, Nov. 24," a sign on the door said. "We hope to open in a new location in the near future."
Diane Rosemond said on Thursday she and Monte are working now on getting the new space ready to open and hope to open by the middle of this month.
Bob Quattlebaum, who owns the property at 133 Fourth Avenue East, said the Rosemonds asked for a break on their $2,800-a-month lease. Quattlebaum said he had heard someone say the restaurant's decision to close "was the landlord's fault. It was nothing of the kind."
"They said 'we've been paying promptly and we want our rent reduced,'" he said. The lease called for an increase of $140 a month, or 5 percent, with options to renew. The 1,820-square-foot building is valued for tax purposes at $143,600.
Quattlebaum, who owns Binion's Steakhouse and operated Kelsey's and the Poplar Lodge before those closed, said the restaurant business is competitive.
"It's tough downtown," he said. "I don't see how any of them are making it. He was doing good there because he's got adequate parking."
"We can't wait for you to reopen," a loyal customer wrote on Mean Mr. Mustard's Facebook page. "We are going through withdrawals."