Behind the locked door of Ace Biscuit & Barbecue., ceiling fans spin above the empty dining room. At the former Omakase Obscura, the well-stocked bar shelves remain illuminated. Boxes crowd the Vitae Spirits distillery and the former Draft Taproom, some bearing address labels for other businesses under the now-closed umbrella of restaurateur Stefan Friedman’s A Moveable Feast.
On February 4, surprised staff at Ace received an eviction notice, according to a Reddit post from manager Ryan High. By February 6, the barbecue restaurant and every other food or beverage business Friedman owned, including the Wine Guild of Charlottesville, had closed or transferred ownership.
The sole survivor from Friedman’s fallout appears to be Old Metropolitan Hall at 101 E. Main St.; control of the business has returned to previous owner Stay Charlottesville, according to a February 11 press release…