Two restaurants to open in downtown Gilroy landmark
GILROY – A team of community-minded restaurateurs is putting the finishing touches on a revamping project that could turn Gilroy’s Old City Hall into a linchpin for revitalizing a lagging downtown.
By late September or early October, Gilroy-raised Glen Gurries and French-born Daniel Barduzzi plan to open two restaurants in the 1906 Flemish baroque style building at Monterey and Sixth streets. If Gurries and Barduzzi can replicate the success they’ve had with restaurants along the Central Coast, a renewed interest in Gilroy’s downtown could begin, freeing Garlic Town’s core from the almostseedy reputation community leaders want to see shed.
If Gilroyans and out-of-towners turn a cold shoulder to the restaurant, the casual Courtyard Grill and the fine dining venue The Clocktower Restaurant could be the two latest victims on a struggling Monterey Street that has seen its share of revived establishments matched by vacant buildings and exiting businesses.
“Frankly, with their vast amounts of experience and all they’re putting into the restaurants, I can’t even fathom this not working,” said Chris Mickartz, marketing manager for the restaurant. “They’ve done their homework. They have a lot of backing. No one has a crystal ball, but everything is right for this to be a success.”
Timing does seem to be on their side. The latest phase of the downtown streetscaping project includes the corner of Monterey and Sixth streets and will conclude by November. Gurries and Barduzzi will finish their interior design work and other upgrades before then, but will only have to wait less than a month before the sidewalk is beautified like the building.
“Ideally it’d all be done at the same time,” Gurries said. “But we’ll probably do a soft opening anyway” by October and then move into full swing as the streetscape project gets done.
In May, the City of Gilroy entered into an agreement to rent Old City Hall to Gurries and Barduzzi for a bargain $3,000 a month. The restaurateurs get up to $2,000 of the rent credited for improvements they make that remain with the building if or when the tenants leave – and the upgrades are vast.
Barduzzi has 40 years experience as a chef, restaurant owner and resort manager. Born in Avignon, France, Barduzzi studied at hotel and culinary schools there before eventually moving from an award-winning restaurant in Massachusetts to take a food and beverage director job at The Lodge in Pebble Beach.
Gurries, who has 18 years experience in the restaurant business, is the only child out of six who was not born in Gilroy.
A formal menu with prices has not yet been set. Some items included on the finer dining Clocktower menu will include abalone soup, lettuce “glassiere” with sliced tomatoes and warm goat cheese crouton, stuffed calamari with “coulis” of roasted red bell pepper, grilled Black Angus Filet Mignon with portabella mushroom red wine reduction and chocolate mousse with raspberries and hot chocolate sauce.
Gurries and Barduzzi are making the courtyard “a place where someone working or shopping at the outlets can come and have a great meal without emptying their wallet,” Gurries explained.
The physical courtyard will make up the majority of the seating for the Courtyard Grill and will have a separate, lighter fare menu put together by the same chef – French-trained Jerome Fressinier – as the higher end Clocktower restaurant.An outdoor grill and wood burning pizza oven will add to the menu options and the delicious aroma in the outdoor space, as heating lamps will be placed near tables to make outdoor dining a comfortable experience even in winter and fall.
