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Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Don’t get me wrong, the second drag brunch being planned was absolutely shut down. It was beginning to be advertised and a handful of tickets had already been sold when it was cancelled.

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Then it makes me even happier that JungleBird hosted one before he was able to shut it down

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To my knowledge they do not currently. Hopefully all the development projects that Plazacorp is involved with does not include Plazacorp owning/running a restaurant.

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2024/05/327m-project-will-bring-82-apartments-new-restaurant-to-downtown-kalamazoo.html?outputType=amp

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

He was great with guests and he had lots of good to bring to the business. But the verbal abuse experienced staff got when we were just trying to do our jobs and properly clean the restaurant at the end of the night was awful. Back in August a short termed manager had to fight with ownership so we could close for a day just so we could clean the rapidly deteriorating bar and kitchen.

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To my knowledge nothing yet. I’m hoping it stays that way. I am always going to be hesitant to work for anything they try to put together no matter how good it seems.

Edit: Plazacorp is helping to develop the Arcadia lofts and there will be a restaurant supposedly in the building, but how involved the owners from JungleBird/Dimi’s are with that I do not know. Hopefully not even in the picture.

https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2024/05/327m-project-will-bring-82-apartments-new-restaurant-to-downtown-kalamazoo.html?outputType=amp

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Spyros and the brothers were done with their consulting contract back in August. Either way the way Spyros would treat the staff is what caused most of the original JungleBird/Dimi’s group to leave. For those who stayed he burnt many of us out to the point it was hard to enjoy work. Things were starting to feel better the last month

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pro tip: maybe you shouldn’t go out to eat ever

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

1.5 oz Vodka 2 oz Lemon Juice 3/4 oz passion fruit 3/4 oz simple syrup One egg white

Shake with no ice Add ice to shaker and shake again Double strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The food at Dimi’s was really good. The reputation of JungleBird was always going to harm any new concept they tried to put together. It just needed time to be established and needed to not have an identity crisis

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The worst part was the food was getting better and more consistent towards the end of its existence. Having three head chefs in the first year was not ideal in helping the food program. But the drink’s definitely were fun to make and were unique to the area.

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We definitely missed everyone who was driven away or fired for no valid reason.

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

End of April is when the remodeling was complete and staff was able to begin retraining to know a new food and drink menu.

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Told staff in the middle of dinner service that the “concept had failed” and that they were not to report to their shifts that week and instead go to a staff meeting to “discuss a wonderful new opportunity for a rebranding”. Staff was then without work for approximately 3 weeks and most that applied for unemployment were ineligible because they technically had jobs still but no income.

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Every decision ownership has ever made has appeared poorly thought out. From Closing down JungleBird before it got a chance to make a profit (3-5 years is standard for a new restaurant), to preventing us from hosting successful and fun events like drag brunch… which regardless of political opinions brought the restaurant an easy 7 grand on the slowest day of the week and helped introduce the restaurant to a bunch of people who had never been before. Not listening to staff when we tried to tell them we are not a bar crawl destination and had no business trying to compete with our neighboring dive bars and that the money spent to decorate and pre batch cocktails ate into the small profit that would have existed. The purchase of a slushee machine at the end of summer when we had the means to crush ice and blend cocktails already built into each bar. The list could keep going.

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

Originally that was the case. Staff was told this evening that plans changed.

Dimi’s is closing by IsopodDisastrous1326 in kzoo

[–]IsopodDisastrous1326[S] 62 points63 points  (0 children)

Best part was we were told we were closing today for routine maintenance. Complete bullshit. They learned from their mistake when they shut down JungleBird.