LOUISVILLE Ky. Cameron Mitchell Restaurants LLC said Tuesday that it is not selling its Martini Italian Bistro restaurant here or closing its location in Ohio.
The statement refutes a report from the Business First publication in Louisville, which quoted British restaurateur Jim Davis as saying the multiconcept operator was selling the six-year-old bistro to him.
"It's a matter of when, not if," Davis said in the report.
However, Cameron Mitchell spokeswoman Carolyn Delp said on Tuesday that "there is no definitive answer on the direction of Martini Louisville."
"Until further notice, it is still owned by Cameron Mitchell Restaurants," she said.
Davis was also quoted in yesterday's report as saying that Cameron Mitchell plans to close its other Martini branch, in the company's home base of Columbus, Ohio. Delp also denied that assertion, saying the company recently renewed the restaurant's lease.
Cameron Mitchell sold 22 of its restaurants last year for $94 million to Ruth’s Chris Steak House Inc. Included in the deal were the company’s Mitchell’s Fish Market concept and two steakhouse brands.