Jerry Moran is packing up his pasta-making machine and moving to Murray Hill.
The owner and executive chef at La Cena Ristorante has served patrons for more than 15 years in the Elks Building Downtown, but it was time to put down some real estate roots, he said.
According to records filed with the Duval County Clerk of Court, Moran purchased for $225,000 the building at 911 Edgewood Ave. S., near the Murray Hill Public Library and Murray Hill Theatre.
Moran said there’s no mortgage.
“I live very frugally and I saved my money,” he said. “I paid cash because I don’t believe in credit.”
He plans about $60,000 in renovations, according to building permit applications.
Most recently the “Edgewood Event Room,” and before that, a church, the building will be ready for a restaurant after Moran moves in his kitchen equipment.
Everything in the kitchen will be moved, including a walk-in cooler. Unless, that is, a new restaurant tenant leases Moran’s current space at 211 N. Laura St. and wants to buy the cooler.
The 3,700-square-foot building is about the same size as the space in the Elks Building, but the new restaurant has an 18-space parking lot included in the deal.
That’s important to Moran. A vocal critic of Downtown parking and security after dark, the restaurant having parking on-site will be an improvement.
“It will be safe, secure and a little more convenient for people who want to come for dinner,” said Moran.
For a very brief time, he considered naming the new restaurant “Café 911,” but ultimately decided to stick with “La Cena.”
Moran is keeping all of his staff in the kitchen and front of the house, many of whom have worked for him for years. He plans to hire two more servers and another person for the kitchen staff.
Buying a building and moving his restaurant also are sort of a “bucket list” action.
“I’m 60 years old, but I’m not ready to retire,” Moran said. “I didn’t want to be sitting in my rocking chair 20 years from now, wondering ‘what if?’”
La Cena will be open Downtown through June 18. Moran said he’ll start cleaning and packing and then move to the new location, which is planned to open in September.
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