Omnivore - Need restaurant staff? Call Pura Vida
Pura Vida’s closing will put its staff out of work
- Courtesy of www.flavorsmagazine.com
- Hector & Leslie Santiago
Like many others, I’m sad, shocked, and a bit angry that Pura Vida is closing at the end of the month. The restaurant, as I wrote recently, is my favorite for casual, affordable dining in the city.
The decision, according to Leslie Santiago, co-owner and wife of chef Hector Santiago, follows months of unsuccessful lease negotiations. The closing comes after 11 years at its North Highland Ave. location.
Sound familiar? The city lost another pan-Latin restaurant about this time last year when Tierra closed its doors after 10 years in business. Lease negotiations were part of Dan and Ticha Krinsky’s decision.
Besides depriving the city of brilliantly conceived tapas (temporarily, I hope!), the closing renders the restaurant’s entire staff unemployed. On her personal Facebook page Leslie writes this:
For all my restaurant industry friends, we have a whole staff here who will be looking for new positions. If you are currently looking for staff or managers, please reach out to me, so we can see if Pura Vida has anyone that might fit your needs. I’d love to see my entire staff with jobs lined up before the end of the year.
Email Leslie or call 404-870-9797. The Santiagos are also seeking investors and partners interested in new ventures.
Both Leslie’s Facebook page and the restaurant’s are packed with disappointed posts and good wishes. I want my dumplings stuffed with huitlacoche and mustard greens, dammit.