Palo Alto residents received some good news alongside their ice cream scoops at the Midtown neighborhood’s annual ice cream social yesterday: The imperiled Mike’s Diner Bar will remain open and will soon begin offering breakfast and lunch.
The popular 29-year-old Palo Alto restaurant had been embroiled in mediation efforts with the property owner, Scher Holdings LLC, after business owner Mike Wallau paid rent one day late in mid-July, a delay caused by a family medical emergency. The property owner’s lease included a year-long stipulation that the restaurant could be evicted if rent was paid even one day late, Wallau said.
The eviction notice was to have taken effect today, Sept. 11, but on Sept. 8, Wallau reached an agreement with the property owners to continue to operate the restaurant. They agreed to accept the rent Wallau had paid for August and September, but reset the stipulation agreement, re-launching the clock on that one-year agreement. Scher Holdings has not yet responded to requests for comment.
“I think trepidation would be a natural feeling with these property owners at this point,” Wallau said.
But Wallau is not dwelling on it. “I’m all positive,” he said. “I’m extremely excited to get open for breakfast and lunch.”
He and the chef are discussing menu expansion. Wallau will be hiring more staff to launch breakfast and lunch service in a couple of weeks. And, he says, the outpouring of community support has been a key factor. A petition urging the Palo Alto City Council to help the restaurant stay open gathered more than 1,450 signatures.
Residents applauded enthusiastically when the news was announced at the ice cream social, and the eatery is planning a party to celebrate, said Annette Glanckopf, vice chair of the Midtown Residents Association.
“The city does not want something that good, gorgeous and beautiful in its sort of run-down business district to go and be vacant,” said Len Filppu, lead organizer of the Fairmeadow Neighborhood Association. “You get a vacancy like that (and it’s) difficult to go and attract other businesses.”
The halted eviction represents a win for the Midtown neighborhood, but the fight’s not over. “We have a number of other eateries… that also need our support as a community,” Glanckopf said.
Wallau is ready to help. “I have an emotional attachment to Midtown,” he said. “It’s going through the most challenging time it ever has. I’d like to help with the revitalization.”
Details: Mike’s Diner Bar is currently open daily from 5 to 8:30 p.m., with weekend brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 2680 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto; mikespaloalto.com.