The people behind the Crazy Goat Tavern and Nina’s Bistro are giving the Concord restaurant game another go in the former location of a beloved sandwich spot.
Old Europe Mediterranean Fine Dining LLC, owned by Nilolija Mujakovic, purchased the squat building at 49 Hall St. in November, known as the Sandwich Depot for 28 years, for $212,500, according to public records and city assessments.
The Crazy Goat Tavern on Main Street closed down this summer after selling a mix of German, Greek, Mediterranean and Italian fare for years. But social media indicates that the Goat, known for its summertime outdoor music, may make another appearance in the South End.
“Today we closed on a property with a restaurant with lots of offsite parking and convenient location,” a Facebook post from November read. “The property needs some updates, but we will keep you posted on our progress along the way.”
It will be interesting to see how the Goat fares off the beaten path.
The location is tucked away in the South End, behind a screen of trees and down a road of mostly residential and some industrial uses. It’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there.
The Sandwich Depot survived for almost three decades on a mix of word-of-mouth, name recognition and the reputation of being a “Concord institution.” The rapport Nancy and Gary Stewart had with their customers, often remembering customer’s by name, if not order. And if a customer was particular about their order (a longtimer once brought in a blueprint for the perfect breakfast sandwich, which they followed to a T), they took it in stride.
For now, it may be a while before the Goat, or a restaurant of a different name, returns to the spot. The building at 49 Hall St. still bears the “Sandwich Depot” sign, and a peek in the window shows the interior has been completely stripped down to the foundation.
The company did not return phone calls requesting comment.
The library’s pick for this year’s “Concord Reads” program may be a familiar name in the Capital City.
Ghost of the Innocent Man: A True Story of Trial and Redemption by Concord High School grad Benjamin Rachlin follows the story of Willie Grimes – a man who spent 24 years in prison for a rape he didn’t commit.
Grimes had been wrongfully convicted in the 1987 rape of an older woman in North Carolina, and he was sentenced to life behind bars. Grimes spent 24 years in prison despite having never committed a violent crime.
To learn more, you should check out an interview of Rachlin we did in 2017. Or pick up a copy of the book before May 2, when Rachlin will be discussing the book at Red River Theaters at 7 p.m., and read along with your neighbors.
In case you didn’t know, there’s a special election in two weeks.
The election was triggered after At-Large Councilor Steve Shurtleff secured the House speaker role and Ward 10 Councilor Daniel St. Hilaire was confirmed to a judge position in December.
Your choices for the at-large roles include Byron Champlin, David Parker, David Sky and Michael Dobrinski.
In Ward 10, you’ll have a choice between Zandra Rice-Hawkins and Joe Shoemaker.
Whoever wins will have to do this all over again in September, when all warded city council positions and two at-large positions – including the current contested seat – will be up for grabs.
Absentee ballots are still available at City Hall. Next week, look for some stories breaking down the candidates and the issues along with polling times.