Brennans New Orleans

New Orleans judge halts theater sale

At the request of a group of theater boosters, a New Orleans judge has ordered the board of Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre to temporarily halt steps to sell part of the theater building for use as a restaurant.

The theater board had agreed to sell 60 percent of the French Quarter building to the Dickie Brennan Restaurant Group. The board would retain control of the 365-seat main theater.

Judge Kern Reese scheduled a hearing for June 24 on whether to extend or cancel his order.

Board leaders said the sale would solve financial problems that have threatened to cost the theater control of the entire building.

However, Jim Walpole, president of the Le Petit Theatre Guild, a booster organization, criticized what he called haste and a lack of transparency surrounding the Brennan deal. He sought the order from Reese.

Chairwoman Cassie Steck Worley said the board had to take immediate action because Capital One Bank, which holds a $700,000 mortgage on the building, had "indicated that there's no time left." She said the building also needs $1 million in roof and termite-damage repairs.

The board canceled the remainder of Le Petit's 2010-11 season in December.

Walpole has said the board had at least two other offers that would have let it retain use of the entire building, but the board said those offers did not guarantee it would be able to continue to own and run the theater. It said the Brennan offer would let it pay off the mortgage and other debts, make the needed repairs and create a sizable endowment fund.

Reese's order forbids the board from "disposing of, alienating or encumbering" any of the theater's property before the hearing.

Walpole said he sought the order after a meeting last week with four board members. He said it appeared the sale was going forward.

Under the proposed sale, everything on one side of the building's central courtyard, including Le Petit's smaller theater, would become a restaurant. The main theater, lobby, orchestra pit and utility room on the other side of the courtyard would be renovated and retained as theater space. The restaurant and theater would share use of the courtyard.

Brennan has not said what kind of restaurant is planned.

Cain Fundraiser Features Dickie Brennan in New Orleans : Roll Call ...

Herman Cain is set to receive the top chef treatment in New Orleans, where the Georgian is in town to appear at the Republican Leadership Conference along with other GOP presidential candidates.

Cain, the former CEO of the Godfather’s Pizza restaurant chain, is scheduled to hold a morning fundraiser at Dickie Brennan’s Palace Café. And, the event is being hosted by Brennan, among New Orleans’ most well-known and successful chefs and restaurateurs, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by Roll Call.

The fundraiser was described by a source as a relatively small, intimate gathering geared toward individuals that might help Cain raise more money in Louisiana. The Cain campaign is asking for donations of $2,500, the legal limit for individuals, also referred to as a “Cain’s Club”-level contribution; $1,500, or “Visionary” level; or $1,000, or “Patriot” level. The “minimum suggested” donation is $500.

Cain is the former president of the National Restaurant Association and through that post in particular became well-connected with restaurateurs and restaurant executives. It is a community he plans to tap as part of his fundraising strategy.

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