Werlein's Chicken Shack

Now we know why the Palace Cafe closed down in an acrimonious dispute over the building. Apparently, there was a different buyer on the horizon. 

The landmark Canal Street building that was the longtime home of the Palace Café is set to be sold to a member of the Motwani family, but ongoing lawsuits from Dickie Brennan’s restaurant group have stalled the deal.

At issue is the historic Werlein’s Music Building, a four-story commercial property in the 600 block of Canal Street, which was constructed in the late 19th Century and was the home to Philip Werlein’s flagship music store. Dickie Brennan & Co., owned by Brennan, his sister Lauren Brennan Brower, and Steve Pettus, operated the Palace Café there from 1990 until its 35-year lease expired in June and the restaurant closed.

The French Quarter is basically Motwanivania now.  If someone complains to you that the whole thing is just daiquiri shops and tacky overpriced souvenir stores, just tell them it is because those guys own everything down there. 

Although, I probably should change the title of this post. Apparently the guy buying Werliens is a completely different Motwani from the Chicken Shack Motwanis. Still, the larger point is, if you're trying to make sense of downtown New Orleans, you need to know your Motwanis. 

New Orleans family businesses

Motwani, 46, is a property owner and businessman who operates independently from his father Kishore "Mike" Motwani and his brother Aaron Motwani, the owners of several Willie’s Chicken Shack and Praline Connection outlets on Canal Street and in the French Quarter, as well as the Sucré pastry shop on Magazine Street and other businesses.

Aaron and Mike Motwani also operate Quarter Holdings, which includes several downtown projects that are converting buildings into multi-unit short-term rental operations that will be run by Sonder.

Lenny Motwani owns dozens of companies, according to business records, including ATM machines, condominium and apartment complexes, and commercial sites leasing to Brother's Food Mart and Magnolia Enterprises convenience stores. He also owns the Blue Bayou Restaurant & Oyster Bar on Canal Street, a block away from the Palace Café.

What does it mean for the future of the now former Palace Cafe?  Well there's a legal dispute with the Brennans still to be ironed out. But assuming the Motwani deal goes through, the article suggests iSeatz  CEO Kenneth Purcell may have something to say about it.  He's rumored to be part of the deal.  Apparently he has opinions about Canal Street anyway.

Purcell said that whatever happens next with the property it will have to recognize that the types of tourists and other visitors drawn to Canal Street have changed over the years.

"I hope that area has an opportunity to shine again," Purcell said.

Unfortunately the reporter didn't ask Purcell to elaborate on that. The "types of tourists" you see downtown haven't changed a whole lot since the Palace Cafe opened in the 1990s, as far as I can tell.