Just a few weeks after closing the doors on his old location, Tony Zervas is almost set to re-open his wildly popular gourmet hamburger restaurant Bouchee’s Bistro in the most familiar of places – Smooth’s Sports Grille on Pine Avenue.
Zervas is close to a deal with Smooth’s owner John Morris that would see Bouchee’s Bistro move into the restaurant space and take over the menu. The new hybrid restaurant – which will be called “Bouchee’s At Smooth’s” – will keep a few fan favorites from the Smooth’s menu and add them to the complete Bouchee’s menu. Zervas says he’ll also add 14 brand new menu items of his own. It’s the dawn of a bigger, better and more visible Bouchee’s, and Zervas can’t wait.
“Oh my gosh, it’s the only thing that I think about,” he says, barely able to contain his excitement. “With his sports concept and my food concept, it’ll be almost like two little restaurants working together.”
Both sides expect to sign a deal either today or tomorrow, followed by the merged re-opening in about two weeks.
“He’ll run the place, in essence,” Morris says of Zervas. “I think it’s going to be really good. It’s very exciting, and Tony has a great opportunity here.”
Morris says he’s looking for new opportunities, and did not seek re-election when his term on the Downtown Long Beach Associates board recently ran out. That was perfect news for Zervas, who was looking to move his restaurant either to Pine Avenue or 2nd Street. In fact, Zervas was scouting the Hooters location – which is also planning to leave – next door to Smooth’s when Morris called him about a possible partnership.
“I walked right over,” Zarvas says.
Many Pine Avenue restaurants and businesses have been hit hard by difficult economic times, which did not help solve problems that have plagued the area for years like a lack of convenient parking as business owners attempted to convince diners to travel downtown. A flurry of events this summer drew large crowds, though, and Zarvas is convinced that he has found a new home.
“I know it can be the dining and entertainment restaurant in Long Beach,” Zarvas says. “There’s so much potential.”
Disclosure: Smooth’s Sports Grille is an advertiser of the lbpost.com.