Dorit Kemsley’s iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo’s Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant’s bankruptcy

Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy

As a seasoned foodie who has dined at various eateries across the globe, I must say the closure of Buca di Beppo locations is indeed a melancholic turn of events. Having indulged in their family-style dishes and vintage ambiance on numerous occasions, it’s disheartening to see these iconic restaurants succumbing to the pressures of the pandemic and rising costs.


Dorit Kemsley’s fabled ‘Capri room’ is remaining open amid Buca di Beppo’s bankruptcy.

Despite ongoing financial struggles for the Italian restaurant chain, their Encino, California branch, which was personally designed by a 48-year-old star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, remains operational and keeps the designed room intact, as confirmed by a representative to DailyMail.com on Monday.

17500 Ventura Boulevard’s restaurant, situated in Encino, was central to a prolonged story arc on Bravo’s series during the summer of 2020. This is where Dorit Kemsley hosted a baby shower for former co-star Teddi Mellencamp in one of its rooms.

The eatery first appeared on the May 13, 2020 episode of the show, where Kemsley shared with Denise Richards and Erika Jayne that she utilized her design skills for a close acquaintance.

She mentioned that her son’s close friend, Robert Earl, who is also a cherished friend of theirs, is the owner of the chain. When she moved, he suggested, “By the way, Buca’s is right around the corner from you,” to which she responded, “Oh my goodness, I might want to personalize it.” And he agreed readily.

Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy

Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy

Kemsley shared with Bravo that she chose to put all her investments into a single location. She explained that when beginning a new business endeavor, your credibility is based solely on the most recent comments made about you.

‘Luckily, we have never come across someone fearing to get into business with us.’

On May 13, 2020, Kemsley expressed his excitement about unveiling his latest business endeavor, which was featured in that evening’s episode, through a post on Instagram.

In a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills episode that aired on Bravo on August 19, 2020, the room and restaurant, designed after the Isle of Capri, were highlighted. These locations had been previously filmed before Mellencamp’s daughter Dove and her partner Edwin Arroyave welcomed their child in February of 2020.

At Mellencamp’s baby shower, Kemsley adorned the room with various shades of pink and lemon yellow, complete with numerous flower arrangements and a three-layer cake.

Kemsley shared with her followers that it was an exciting and fulfilling experience to witness the realization of my idea for this room, and I enjoyed every minute of decorating it particularly for the shower party!

Working together with Kemsley’s initiatives, the restaurant introduced a unique menu named the Capri Package. This menu consisted of specific dishes chosen by the reality star, as well as items served during the baby shower event.

In simpler terms, the Encino restaurant is one of eight California branches of Buca di Beppo, according to KTLA’s report from yesterday. These California locations are part of a larger network of 44 Buca di Beppo restaurants across 14 different states, with two additional outlets found internationally.

Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy
Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy
Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy
Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy
Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy

In a surprising turn of events, it’s been reported that the Encino location will continue operating, following Buca di Beppo’s closure of 13 underperforming restaurants in the U.S. last week. Financial documents filed on Sunday night reveal that the company owes up to $50 million but possesses assets worth less than $50,000.

Recently, the restaurant chain renowned for its homey meals and antique ambiance announced the permanent closure of several outlets in California, Florida, as well as its final establishments in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

In the court records, there’s no mention of more establishments closing down, yet it’s common for restaurant chains that file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to ultimately have to close some locations.

Notable personalities like Kemsley, the iconic Sylvester Stallone, and Sofia Vergara from Modern Family have all shown a fondness for Buca di Beppo.

In the court document, the company headquartered in Orlando stated that they experienced a decrease in sales, coinciding with an increase in expenses for both food and labor costs.

In Chapter 11 proceedings, the company plans to significantly reduce expenses through either renegotiating certain rental agreements to lower costs or terminating pricier lease contracts.

Previous workers from various restaurants, several of which have been operational for more than twenty years, expressed surprise when they had to close down recently.

Rozalyn Marc-Aurele, a four-year employee at a Sacramento, California restaurant, shared with FOX40 that it’s quite disappointing to see things conclude.

Amidst the wave of eateries shutting down nationwide, I’m deeply concerned as rising food prices and escalating operational expenses take a toll on small and medium-sized restaurant chains like my favorites.

Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy

 

Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy

In addition to its Sacramento, California location, Buca di Beppo also shut down eateries in Michigan, Florida, and Pennsylvania as well.

According to a statement made to DailyMail.com, the company acknowledged that they shut down 13 of their establishments this week due to the pandemic-related harm and additional market stresses preventing them from recovery.

Since 1999, the Sacramento eatery has consistently served up their renowned meatball dishes alongside generous portions of pasta and pizza sharing plates.

“It’s quite significant that, despite being around for such a long time, this establishment is shutting down,” shared ex-employee Jayden Seizmore with FOX40.com.

He told the outlet that workers were unaware of the restaurant’s closure until Monday morning. 

As an over-the-moon devotee, I was summoned to the restaurant at the ungodly hour of 11 a.m., under the guise of an urgent gathering. Little did I know, this assembly was nothing more than the announcement of its closure. The news left me reeling, like a fish out of water, longing for the days when our shared passion for this establishment brought us together.

Marc-Aurele expressed his disappointment by saying, “It’s truly unfortunate that my time here had to conclude so suddenly.” Alternatively, he could have said, “I find it quite disappointing that things ended so abruptly.”

The chain is also recognized as a popular venue for festivities and events, including parties; in fact, famed actor Sylvester Stallone purchased a location in California back in 2009.

Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy
Dorit Kemsley's iconic Capri room lives on! Buca di Beppo's Encino location where RHOBH star decorated special section is staying open amid restaurant's bankruptcy

As a devoted follower, I’d like to share some background about Buca di Beppo. Established in Florida back in 1993, this charming eatery has since become part of the Planet Hollywood family, joining their subsidiary group in 2008.

Currently, we have 44 Buca di Beppo eateries operating within the country; a decade back, their count peaked above 80 active locations.

Based on regional news accounts, establishments were closed down in Maryland, Ohio, and Hawaii earlier this year.

In 2016, the location that once stood in Santa Monica, California, was where Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara was photographed during a Meatballs 4 Ninos charity event in 2013. For this cause, she collaborated with Bucca di Beppo restaurants to generate funds and promote awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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2024-08-06 09:04

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