City calls Henry Clay Avenue supper club a restaurant, which would not be permitted

Enterprise appears to be ongoing, however

The Battle of Henry Clay Avenue continues.

View full sizeKathy Anderson, The Times-Picayune archivePhoto by Kathy Anderson 438 Henry Clay Avenue was photographed in January 2007.

The five-year contest had appeared to be over in February when the City Council denied a zoning change that local chef Greg Sonnier was seeking so he could convert the Uptowner, a reception hall he operates at 438 Henry Clay, into a full-fledged restaurant.

Sonnier and his wife, Mary, lost their acclaimed Esplanade Avenue restaurant, Gabrielle, after Hurricane Katrina flooded it.

Heeding the protests of many neighbors, Councilwoman Susan Guidry led the council in rejecting Sonnier's request, though several council members said they would welcome a Sonnier restaurant in their districts.

In March, though, a venture called Mystery Street Productions sent out invitations to an April 1 dinner at the Uptowner. "The goal of Mystery Street Productions," the message said, "is to offer a weekly or biweekly supper club, to allow the people of NOLA to enjoy the 'Good Eats' of Gabrielle Restaurant once again."

Mystery Street's website says it "is in no way affiliated with Gabrielle Restaurant, the Uptowner or Greg and Mary Sonnier," even though all its events are to be at the Uptowner.

"All events are private functions and you must present your receipt or ticket to enter," it says, apparently hoping to show that creation of the "supper club" does not mean the Sonniers are operating a restaurant.

City officials didn't buy it. Safety and Permits Director Paul May recently sent Sonnier a letter saying that "use of the premises for a supper club is an illegal use because a restaurant is not permitted at this location." May said if the Mystery Street events did not "cease immediately," he would ask the city attorney's office to go to court to stop them.

However, the Mystery Street website is reporting that the next "secret supper club" event, this Thursday, is sold out. It adds: "Check back soon for another date!"

Bruce Eggler can be reached at beggler@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3320.