October 18, 2007
A certain blogger I know ran into Matt Crusen, the bar manager at Bar Louie, as well as Travis, the regional manager for Bar Louie, last night at an establishment he is known to frequent. Travis is not happy with the Peoria blogger community, and particularly displeased with Chef Kevin. Same said blogger invited Travis to the Blogger Bash on October 30th to state his case. Travis seems to agree with said certain blogger that Matt Crusen will be able to turn the service record of Bar Louie around. Anyone who has been there in the 3-4 weeks that Matt has been there should certainly agree. So, Chef Kevin and others (this blogger included), prepare yourself in case Travis and Matt show up at Donnelly’s on October 30th.
October 18th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Well, Cory does he want to pick my mind or beat me up?
From P.I.’s blog: “I didn’t invite them to cause trouble. I invited them because Travis said he’d like to hear any ideas Kevin might have about improving the restaurant. I’m sure he’d love to hear from everyone else as well.
I did get an e-mail from him wanting to discuss things over lunch or dinner. I didn’t think I was overly critical, but oh, well…….
October 18th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
He was pretty professional, so I’m sure it’s more of a mind-picking than an ass-whooping. If he gives you any problems, we’ll let Rob loose on him. He owns more guns than Libya and Kazakhstan combined.
October 18th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
I did get an e-mail from him wanting to “clear up some misunderstandings”….
October 18th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
I’m confused as to why he is “particularly displeased with Chef Kevin” since I don’t remember the Chef ever blogging about Bar Louie. If he should be upset with anyone it should be me, since I started this firestorm by relating a singular bad experience. Of course it snowballed from there…
October 18th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
I don’t know..if this is the same Travis Mohlenbrink I knew at Watseka High School, I’d say he’s probably looking out for an attempted ass kicking.
October 19th, 2007 at 9:18 am
PI- I’m not sure, either. I think it has something to do with the comments on the post you did regarding the kitchen manager position. If I would have mentioned that I am who I am, he probably would’ve been displeased with me in person, so I conveniently neglected to mention it.
October 19th, 2007 at 10:06 am
Well…the guy can be displeased with ME as much as he wants for saying what I am about to say, quite frankly…Bar Louie has terrible food, and terrible service. I have been ther three times, and the bar staff was rude, and innefficient, the wait staff was completely clueless. We were served cold food once, hair in the food the second time, and burnt food the third time. The management offered no compensation for the lack of service OR the bad vittles, and the waitress was snotty and rude from the moment I mentioned the crappy offerings. I was polite, I might mention as I have been involved in food service for 20+ years myself, and yet…the staff at Bar Louie wasn’t. Oh and lest I forget to mention the fact that they cannot decide if they want to be a bar/music venue OR a full service resturant. The way it is now…trying to be both does NOT work. They need to either re-design the interior to make it more “bar” friendly, or kill the live music and keep it as is as a gathering place with food and piped-in music. Sorry, folks…I had to rant. I refuse to ever visit Bar Louie again until they get with the program and improve the issues they obviously have with design, venue-type, and food.
Like I said before…the guy can be displeased all he wants, honeslty…until he fixes the problems…the place is never gonna fly.
-Jaded
October 22nd, 2007 at 12:07 pm
[...] went into Peoria and applied for a couple of part time jobs at the Shoppes at Grand Prarie. (Not at Bar Louie). Taylor and his friend J. came with me; I sent them off to ogle HALO 3 at one of the video game [...]
October 23rd, 2007 at 8:26 am
I know Travis personally. He can be pretty arrogant and he thinks he knows it all so this doesn’t surprise me at all. He also has a habit of looking down his nose at people. The facts are the facts, Chef Kevin. I applaud you for speaking the truth!
October 29th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
Anyone finding the blogs lacking should make the time to post their own.
I find the local blogs entertaining whether they are sharing personal snapshots of what happened to them that day or the weightier stuff Bill Dennis does–Citizen Journalism–all have a place and easy internet access lets people stay in touch in a way that fits people’s schedules.
This blog is fun to read and Bill’s blog does more for me than PJ Star because he raises better questions about local issues and decisions than PJS reporters. He can say things without being beholden to advertisers but uses this freedom with professional discipline–at least all I have read of Bill’s work from the blogs and River City Times.
I am a little surprised that such a fun and open public medium would breed critical quarrels when anyone can easily do and say their own thing, thereby solving any perceived problems. Blog on!
November 7th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Hey guys and gals, my name is Matt Crusen, some of you know me others may not. Regardless I am now managing Bar Louie in Peoria. Just a little FYI Travis is no longer with the company, for that matter nor is any of the staff that was there prior to me taking over in early October. I want you all to know that I was very skeptical about taking this job because I too had terrible service out there. I see it as a challenge. this being said I may or may not see you at Bar Louie.
November 7th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Matt,
I’ve known you for some time from the old days on Farmington with Branson, Austin, and all the rest. I have confidence that you can make Bar Louie a much better place. Good luck.
November 7th, 2007 at 4:53 pm
[...] while back, I wrote a post about a chance meeting I had with Matt Crusen and Travis from Bar Louie. When I signed on today, I found this rather [...]