Memphis at the Santora and Detroit Bar Plan to Change Ownership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 13, 2014

Memphis at the Santora and Detroit Bar Plan to Change Ownership First Quarter

[Santa Ana & Costa Mesa – CA] – The Memphis Group announced that the Downtown Santa Ana restaurant location, Memphis at the Santora and the Costa Mesa live music venue, Detroit Bar, will plan to change ownership in the first quarter of this year to begin a new era in music and culinary experiences in the community.

Memphis at the Santora was the second restaurant in the group’s portfolio. The location opened in 2002, following the launch of the flagship Memphis Café location in Costa Mesa that opened in 1995. Like the Café, Memphis at the Santora featured the restaurant group’s unique chic spin on classic Southern comfort food and also presented nightly live entertainment and special events. The new tenants of the Memphis at the Santora location plan to open a contemporary Mexican fare restaurant called The Concept – the Art of Mexican Food.

Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa served as a staple live music venue and an integral part of the OC music community since 2001. The venue presented internationally recognized artists and up and coming local acts of all musical genres seven nights a week. Ownership has been transferred to Jeff Chon and the Wayfarer Group, LLC. Jeff Chon is the current owner of Newport Beach restaurant, The Alley and Costa Mesa eatery, Tabu Shabu. He plans to revitalize the venue as the Wayfarer – A House of Social Provisions, continuing Detroit Bar’s legacy of presenting live music and also serving classic pub fare with a twist on modern gastronomy.  

The Memphis Group partners are pleased with both changes of ownership and plan to focus the group’s efforts on the Memphis Café flagship location, Memphis Catering & Events division and Tin Lizzie Saloon.

“Condensing the Memphis Group portfolio of venues makes the most sense for us right now and will allow us to focus on the core of our business. We are thrilled the legacies of culinary and live music will carry on in both locations and look forward to continuing to service the community through Memphis Café, Tin Lizzie special events and future projects” commented Dan Bradley, CEO of The Memphis Group.

For more information on the Memphis Group please visit http://memphiscafe.com

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The Memphis Group establishments have served as staple eatery and entertainment hubs in Orange County since the launch of the group’s flagship location, Memphis Café, Costa Mesa in 1995. By 2002 The Memphis Group had successfully expanded locally to include two Memphis restaurants, a catering and events division, a live-music venue (Detroit Bar) and gay friendly saloon (Tin Lizzie Saloon) all characterized by the group’s signature branded chic spin on comfort food, classic cocktails and mod design meets roadhouse ambiance. http://memphiscafe.com