After less than three months in operation Tony and James Restaurant in Kentlands Downtown is the subject of questions regarding a change in ownership and name as well as complaints from employees who say they haven’t been paid.
The restaurant has been sold to Parham Feiz who was the former general manager, according to former co-owner James Lloyd.
The Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control however says Tony Massenburg’s name is still on the license and Feiz’ name has replaced former licensee Melissa Merlo.
Town Courier queries to both Lloyd and Massenburg about Massenburg’s continued role with the restaurant were not answered.
Feiz is listed as a resident agent of Tony and James. Melissa Johns with the Department of Liquor Control said the resident agent is a person that is listed on the alcohol license that has lived in Montgomery County for at least two years. “They do not have to have any dealing with the business,” she said.
In addition, several employees and former employees including Michael Stone who worked as a line chef say they have not been paid for hours worked. Stone went two pay periods without a check and before that his pay was reduced retroactively. “I really have never dealt with such unprofessional people,” he said.
Lloyd said he and Massenburg pulled out of the business to focus their energy on a new restaurant they plan to open in Georgetown and another in Florida.
According to Lloyd, the name of the restaurant will change sometime in the next month and will focus on a sports bar theme. A new menu will be in place next week. Entrees will be priced under $17.
Well Caddies on Cordell took over a CURSED place in Bethesda like 10 years ago and have a great go at it!!!!! That spot changed over like 4,5 times in previous 5 years.
It can be done….
Need serious CONCEPT and buzz and deep pockets…..perfect spot for Cava or Matchbox. Those guys KNOW what they are doing!!!!
I have worked in restaurants for almost 4 years in the front of house, mostly serving and bar tending. This summer I was in need of a new job and was subsequently hired at Tony and James. As a person who has worked in restaurants that do very well and ones that are now put out of business, I can tell you conclusively that Tony and James was the biggest sham of an operation I have ever been a part of. The training manager thought she was the hottest expert on service training ever when in reality she was rude and honestly the worst human resources/management person I have ever met. The staff were idiots, they opened the doors too early before they had a competent staff and completely crumbled during the opening weekend, ruining first impressions for the restaurant within the entire community and giving the kiss of death to the place. Parham Feiz will do better as I have heard good things about him and his work ethic. I also agree with the post above me which stated that Massenburg and Lloyd are probably silent partners, I don’t see them settling a 15 year lease (btw good call on that lease guys…) within 3 months of opening the place. The place is cursed, terrible location, no bathrooms downstairs. I had to quit during training, the place was empty and the people were incompetent. The meals and drinks had the highest price point in Kentlands (higher than Bonefish, which in turn is a fantastic place), for instance they sold $14 burgers when 5 Guys IS LITERALLY 30 FEET AWAY. I wish the place the best tho (everyone except that incompetent service manager who clearly had a huge hand in ruining the place with her idiotic service methods and training), if they can turn the place into a sports bar (as planned), put a bathroom downstairs, cut out that stupid dance floor upstairs and make it a 2 story place with tables upstairs along the 2nd story looking down into the sports bar, and lower the price point by HALF, then they might have a chance.
The two owners were not smart and if they are crooks they are bad crooks. T&J simply alienated themselves before they got started – Then they open up against the Tiki Bar on the three biggest nights of the week, and the Tiki rains out one night all summer, priceless… Lets see – stay out doors – or go inside hmmmmm. $3 beer or $7 beer … DC Prices for drinks with a D minus menu and terrible service. If T&J had half a brain they would have put money into a new bathroom downstairs and not have behaved up stuck up wanna be’sssss….. Seriously the problem was not the geography it was the bad attitude, bad service, bad food and over priced drinks…. You think Georgetown will put up with that – I give you less than 3 months……. Same Group – Same Result
I honestly don’t know who they think they are fooling. With Massenburg still on the liquor license, both Lloyd and he will still be majority “silent” partners/owners. I think it’s all a cover up operation to try and get back in the black, as a place cannot come back from the terrible reviews it has has so early on. Wasn’t there a 15 year lease for the space? Are they really going to be able to walk away from that? As a first time restaurant owner, I would be very leery of taking on such a commitment (in the case of Feiz.) Seems like those two NBA guys are shady characters, and it wouldn’t surprise me in the least if this is just a feeble attempt to try and dupe the community. Only time will tell, but I’m not holding my breath. If I am wrong, then I do wish Feiz the best of luck.
I wish the best of luck for Parham. Hopefully with the old owners out of the way things can be the way they should have been all along. The problem before was not the servers, kitchen staff, bartenders or managers. The place was greatly disorganized. There could have been a lot of little tweeks that could have made it run smoother but firing dozens of people including chefs and managers was not the route to take. The owners never got their hands dirty. And as someone with a lot of experience in restaurants, you have to actively participate with your employees, customers and entire restaurant operation to make it work and be successful. As a former employee, Parham can do this. As a manager he went above and beyond to help in any way he could and I know he has a lot of love and pride for this restaurant. He deserves this position 100%. I just hope the residents of Kentlands see that and give the new version of T & J another shot. Good luck and I hope to hear good things from now on :).