Yancy’s Locks Doors, Bounces Checks

UPDATE: Yancy’s is open for business. Vote on how long you think it will last, below.

As of February 20, 2008, Yancy’s had a debt of almost $270,000. ABC reports, “Yancy’s front doors are locked--closed for business.”~~Today Yancy’s shut their doors, with workers kicking and screaming for money owed to them or at least a check that wouldn’t bounce~~. Meanwhile, Yancy sat outside smoking a cigar, contemplating how to celebrate the 4th of July.

It seems that after filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February, Yancy’s has not been able to get out of the hole. Many other businesses in the Fayetteville Street district are thriving. It’s odd that Yancy’s is the only one not able to pay its employees. Most of the check cashing places in downtown have refused to cash Yancy’s checks and bank tellers tell employees that there are “insufficient funds”. Many employees have been denied payment for the past couple of weeks and were told to be at the restaurant around 1:45pm yesterday, only to wait outside for hours before receiving checks that would eventually bounce. Some have received parts of a check, others were told to come back today.

According to sources close to the restaurant, much of the food that was being used at Yancy’s buffet was two weeks old, and that “everyday the manager goes to the grocery store to get just enough food to get through that day’s lunch, using the small amount of the money made the day before.” They are also turning away beer and food deliveries to the restaurant as well as their linen vendors.

This afternoon there were various employees going in and out of the restaurant, but no customers. Meanwhile, Yancy sat outside, cigar in tow. Workers were taking down signs, balloons, and umbrellas, but Yancy seemed content.

Can’t see the poll? Go HERE.

cj07/02 06:29 PM

too bad for them (the employees).... good day for Raleigh.... there was always something kinda off about that place, maybe now something decent will open in its place

ben07/02 06:37 PM

hopefully this will help sell the remaining units in the hudson that have had a serious problem with the noise coming from yancey’s. as great as it is to have live jazz music downtown, in my opinion, this club has deteriorated downtown more than help appreciate it.

Jason07/02 07:26 PM

It’s a shame—the concept of the place was great. We loved the music we heard there and decor was not too bad (and the bathrooms were the most chic in town, although Amra’s handtowels put it in a class of its own). I even liked the “larger than life” persona that Yancy was creating for himself.

But the food was very mediocre, and it was decidedly overpriced. No way around that.

viridari07/02 09:07 PM

Hopefully the next tenant can contain their party atmosphere more effectively. What might be fun for the people on the street level looking for night life, it must sound like hell to the upstairs neighbors just trying to read a book or get some sleep.

Miles07/03 09:41 AM

There is a very thin line between jazz and jizz.

Jones07/03 09:55 AM

Yancey never could make a location work. First he was in the Woodys space in City Market, then went where Two T’s is now on Hargett. Somehow his charming personality talked itself into yet another loan, this one bigger than the others. He sounds like a big talker who doesn’t really know much about running a big time place. The space is beautiful, and with RBC’s space about to be available next door, this strip of Fayetteville St could be very nice indeed. As far as NewRaleigh saying that other places on Fayetteville doing great, I dispute that, as Crema and Fayetteville Street Tavern both complain about slow business and today in the TBJ is an article about the Mint running in the red still. So even though I doubt Yancey, it could be landlords think too highly of there spaces and charge way too much rent all up and down the Street.

viridari07/03 09:57 AM

“it could be landlords think too highly of there spaces and charge way too much rent all up and down the Street” - Jones

Very likely a contributing factor to the general state of business along the street. But with Yancy’s there are clear indications of good old fashioned poor business management.

Ms. P07/03 09:59 AM

I have been a huge fan of the restaurant since the day it has opened its doors. It was a great concept and something that downtown Raleigh really needed to spice things up. Clients and residents of downtown always enjoyed the “jazz” Atmosphere and some great employees who treated you like family. In my position I am very aware of behind the scenes management and ownership of downtown establishments. I am very disappointed with the way Harvey Yancey has been portrayed in this article, Yancey’s has many owners, and they paid him for the use of his name and image. He is in a bad situation just like the employees and I am sure that he was not aware of the major financial problems. I think you should speak with the Actual Owners of this establishment rather than depicting this nice man as “Content” with the current situation.

Ken Metzger07/03 10:08 AM

I did find the food a little overpriced (but good) and the service lacking, but I still hope that the restaurant can survive.
This is the only truly diverse place in all of downtown Raleigh. I wish we could have more like it in that respect.

John07/03 10:37 AM

I always found the staff at the door extremely rude, the service slow, and an overall lack of care about their job. I’m not too surprised or sad.

prmgmt07/03 11:17 AM

I liked yancys the few times I went there for beers.

Lisa Jeffries07/03 01:34 PM

My same comments from RPS: “I’m not trying to add insult to injury, but I’m not really surprised. I gave Yancy’s opportunity after opportunity and was ALWAYS disappointed with the service and food quality. You can’t build a repeat restaurant customer base with those two very important qualities always being bottom of the barrel.”

I also agree that the rent in this area is probably an excruciating burden and I think we’ll be hard-pressed to find a tenant with local roots, a unique atmosphere, and prices that enough clientele can afford on a regular basis to keep any good restaurants in this area.

wg07/03 02:29 PM

WHY WOULD YOU STAY OPEN AND SPEND MONEY GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE TO BUY FOOD THAT SUCKS, FOR A MENU THAT BASICALLY DOESNT EXIST, IF YOU CANT EVEN AFFORD TO PAY THE POOR PEOPLE WHO STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN PAID YET FROM THREE WEEKS AGO!!!!????? selfish, unprofessional people....

viridari07/03 02:30 PM

NO NEED TO YELL!

Be a good neighbor. Turn off your caps lock key and type like a human being, wg.

Brittany07/03 02:44 PM

The screamer posted the exact same message under the N&O;’s article that Yancy’s is open.

http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1129465.html

Maybe it’s one of the “former employees”.

wg07/03 02:59 PM

no, i am actually friends of several people who still work there (until they get their checks), as well as to several who are no longer there… and its just frustrating b/c nothing about any of it makes sense. its totally unfair. dont you agree?
sorry for screaming.

viridari07/03 03:01 PM

Well the blogosphere and the N&O;are still giving conflicting reports of what is going on.

go go07/03 03:40 PM

I loved the ambiance but never thought the food was all that much - the last time I ate there I swore it would be the last time I ate there.

lunarvision07/03 05:20 PM

I’m also not surprised this place can’t stay open, which seems to be the consensus among folks.

I feel bad for the workers who aren’t getting paid. I used to work for a local design firm and experienced the same things - bad management, bounced checks, eventual closed doors. A few bounced paychecks at the wrong times can cause a serious ripple effect on your finances and credit. I feel their frustration.

Dana07/03 09:09 PM

(The author of the comment two above, “go go”, has no affiliation with my website, gogoraleigh.com)

That said, I have enjoyed my few meals at Yancy’s and hope they continue to offer us the option of going there for a long time.

13007/03 09:49 PM

Dana,

You truly are shameless. You’re never missing an opportunity to waste oxygen or electrons. I don’t think anyone was in suspense as to whether or not ‘go go’ represented your web site or not.

Betsy07/03 10:10 PM

Be nice if we could keep some of our old buildings around, since the lower rent enables good restaurants to persist at a decent price. All the glitzy towers come with a price ... literally.

Kurt07/05 01:13 PM

When I played with Big Money Grip back in the day, one of our favorite gig spots was the original location in City Market. The food was good, the prices were reasonable and the vibe was unmatched in Raleigh.

Lessons learned: If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. And don’t live beyond your means.

john b07/07 11:09 AM

why is this story still up when it is obviously not correct?

Magnus07/07 11:13 AM

I don’t think it’s fair to say that it’s “not correct”, john. “In dispute” is probably a better way to describe it.

And there is an update up top that they are back open for business.

This could use some more thorough and objective investigation and clarification, though. Doesn’t mean it needs to be removed, just updated.

john b07/07 11:17 AM

the “update” starts with yancy’s is “apparently back open”. were they ever closed? did they have any evidence that they were closed other than the debunked word of former employees?

the section about the spoiled food is especially heinous. this is the sort of stuff that can ruin a restaurant, and newraleigh is apparently keeping it up when it is obvious that is most likely dubious.

Magnus07/07 11:33 AM

Right below the update you will find two other articles presenting other points of view on the story.

You’re obviously pretty emotionally invested in this particular story. What’s your interest in Yancy’s?

john b.07/07 11:40 AM

the closest thing to emotional investment in yancy’s that i have is having walked by it a few times.

i’d just rather a restaurant succeed or fail on its own merits. continuing to spread rumors that they serve two-week old food in their buffet is irresponsible. who are these “sources” that the author is quoting? are they former employees who were wrong about the restaurant being closed in the first place?

i have a hard time believing anything in the text of this post, given how wrong some of it has already been proven to be.

wg07/07 11:48 AM

i am a “source”.... because i knew several people that have recently worked in the kitchen there and they are the ones who informed me. they have no choice but to serve old food b/c they literally have no money to buy fresh. the manager goes to the grocery everyday (using the meager amount of money made from the day before) to get just enough of the essentials to piece the menu together for lunch shift. most of their menu is not even available b/c they dont have the food to do it. all of this information is 100% valid. they cant afford anything...beer, linens… they have turned all of those trucks back around b/c they cannot pay them. and there are still employees that have not been paid since payday (last monday).

john b07/07 11:51 AM

no offense. but you’re a secondhand source. you knew some people who “recently worked” in the kitchen there. are these the same folks who said that the restaurant was closed?

Magnus07/07 11:51 AM

wg - Respectfully, you’re not a source. You’re giving us information second hand. The people who you are talking to are sources, but as far as I know they aren’t posting here.

wg07/07 11:57 AM

no, they never said they were closed… neither did i. and, as far as the people who are the initial sources of most of this information, they have not posted on here b/c at this point they dont give a shit and are fed up with it all. none of them even work there anymore.

cat07/07 04:22 PM

I know some of the vendors that supply Yancy’s and they have been saying for a while now that the orders are refused because they haven’t been able to pay. These are beverage, food, and linen vendors so there is some truth that they are financially struggling.
It is also true that the paychecks are bouncing. I am friends with the owner of a check cashing business downtown and he told me a few weeks ago that he had to stop cashing paychecks from Yancy’s as they were no good.

Joe07/13 11:36 PM

Hello… Yancy’s Totally bogus. I called to make reservations in the VIP ROOM for Sunday, July 13th to celebrate my wife’s 63rd birthday and called a few friends to join us. Well we get there two friends sitting outside in 90 degree heat and resturant closed… They say they open on sunday from 11 to 2. I made reservation for 3… They say they never make reservations. They make me appear stupid and a liar.. I say fuck them.... Why tell me ok and they say VIP room is being altered… Well somebody a liar and it is not me… You alter the VIP room of a failing resturant.. Too bad owner was not sitting outside with cigar in mouth..... up ass is good place for cigar.

viridari07/13 11:37 PM

Don’t hold back, Joe. Tell us what you really think.

wg07/14 06:43 AM

joe… and everyone else...see what i mean? i mentioned earlier in the blog how fucked up the whole thing us-- and i am SO glad that someone else sees that. i hope you call the restaurant and complain, or contact the owner (by the way, yancy- the dude with the cigar- is not the owner. the owners name is van, and the GM is jewel hester… FYI). it is simply unacceptable for a restaurant to remain open under these unprofessional conditions. oh and by the way, my friend who used to work there has STILL not gotten paid from them-- and payday was two weeks ago. bullshit.

viridari07/15 01:29 PM

So they lasted all of about 2 weeks after this article was written.

I guess that settles that.

“Employees are expected to pick up their final paychecks Tuesday afternoon.” ... Yeah good luck cashing those.

rk07/19 02:28 PM

i won’t miss yancy’s. it had no substance. also, i like the people that live downtown and complain about noise. move back to the burbs,

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Wednesday, July 02, 2008