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Jon Han, who opened the high-end club Palma in the Redwood Trust building, has left town, sources say.
The investors met and voted him off the island, I'm told. He's now headed for Philly, where he plans to open a similar club, according to the rumor mill.
Here's another juicy little tidbit: I hear they never even made a full rent payment. Ouch! Dubai is already closed. Looks like Palma is next.
What a weird little saga.
(Sun archive photo)
I've been The Baltimore Sun's nightlife and local entertainment reporter for a couple years, and it's surprising how much the scene has grown in that time. Most of Baltimore's bars and clubs are unpretentious places with fairly cheap drinks and plenty of character. I like dancing and think this city needs more clubs, but nothing beats having a cold, locally brewed beer with friends in a comfortably full corner bar.
Comments
Sam, maybe your reviews scared them away.
Posted by: Drew from Greektown | September 5, 2008 11:53 AM
Man, won't they ever learn. In Baltimore the words "classy" and "dance clubs" don't mesh. This town enjoys hard drinking bars and cheesy night clubs. That's just how we roll.
Posted by: GMan | September 5, 2008 1:23 PM
Drew -- Boo!
Posted by: Sam Sessa | September 5, 2008 2:05 PM
These places closed/are closing faster than a play with scathing openning night reviews.
You would think with so much money laid out that they would at least change managers and marketing strategies and try for a couple of more months.
I can't believe that anyone would let Jon Han manager anything right now much less open or command another Titanic this soon wothout proving himself.
Posted by: GDA | September 5, 2008 4:28 PM
Landlord changed the locks this weekend. They owe lots of back rent.
Posted by: LoveGrove | September 8, 2008 12:00 AM
Baltimore is hopeless, I actually like the club, the environment is nice, music is good...it's ashamed. Hope Baltimore will stop hating and support what they are trying to do here. It's nice not have to drive all the way to DC.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 8, 2008 6:34 PM
Hopeless? Since when is a club like Palma or Dubai something to aspire to? If that's your thing, so be it. But time and again, the people of this city have shown that they just are not interested in pretentious clubs. Personally, I think its a testament to the fact that people here value substance over style and know that even with the pretty lights and fancy decorations, its just a place to get a drink. This is the market at work and its the fault of those who can't read plainly obvious indicators that the clubs won't succeed. Finally, there's no need to support what Han and his investors are "trying to do" - they're not feeding the hungry or helping the homeless. They're offering a product for sale that no one wants.
Posted by: F. Pants McFadden | September 9, 2008 9:00 AM
I don't think Palma will back down to all this. They will come back even harder and improve Baltimore and what it used to be. I don't appreciate what people been saying. Most people in Baltimore, MD are all shady and doing illegal stuff too. If you take a visit to Dubai right now, i would say, I would take account of multiple accounts of underage drinking and polluting the streets with drunk kids and causing hassles. Its just Baltimore, MD as it is that is causing these difficult problems and someone needs to change this.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 18, 2008 1:51 PM
Guess What??? Palma will be back soon!
Posted by: Anonymous | October 3, 2008 12:32 AM
@ Anonymous
I would like to that you. Now who can argue with that? We're all indebted to Anonymous for clearly stating what needed to be said. Not only was it authentic Baltimore gibberish, but it expressed a courage little seen in this day and age.
So how about that Palma?
Posted by: John Letcher | May 30, 2009 3:02 PM