Nearly Famous, Metro Grill owners move on

Coco sold The Metropolitan Grill, 2931 E. Battlefield Road, to former employee Pat Duran in January, and Powell sold Nearly Famous Deli & Pasta House, 1828 S. Kentwood Ave., to Nancy Miller on Feb. 3.

That’s where their similarities end.

While Powell plans to remain working part time at Nearly Famous – specifically in catering, Web site development and advertising – Coco is moving to Oregon to start another restaurant.

Nearly retired

“We had been considering what we were going to do for an exit strategy as we started getting closer to (age) 60,” said Powell, 56, who is married to Ed Powell, owner of Herrman Lumber. “This came up, and it was the perfect solution.”

Powell and new owner Miller both emphasized that nothing at Nearly Famous would change except for the number of hours worked by Powell. Powell said she’d cut her work schedule from 60 hours per week to less than 40 hours per week. George Mikkelsen will remain general manager.

“(It’s) the passing of the torch,” Miller said, noting that the menu would stay intact.

Miller bought the 30-year-old Nearly Famous, located behind the Plaza Tower, after spending the last 12 years in human resources at former Springfield stainless-steel manufacturer Pure Flo Precision. Miller was forced from her Pure Flo job on Dec. 29 as the plant closed.

She said she’s wanted to own a restaurant since working as a youth in restaurants owned by her mother and grandfather in St. Joseph.

“I think this is the perfect fit for me,” Miller said.

‘That was my baby’

Coco said Eugene, Ore., home to the University of Oregon, has the same need for upscale restaurants that Springfield had when he moved to the Ozarks from St. Louis in 1994.

“They are begging (for good restaurants),” he said. “I know what I’m doing. I would never go anywhere or try anything if I wasn’t 100 percent (sure I’d succeed).”

He also said he’s sure The Metropolitan Grill would succeed under new owner Duran – so sure that he sold the 12-year-old restaurant to Duran six months before the agreed-upon timetable. Duran was hired in June as Coco’s apprentice with the option to buy the restaurant in a year.

“I wouldn’t just give the Metro to anybody,” Coco said. “That was my baby.”

Coco is leaving March 1 for the Pacific Northwest, and he’s already scouting possible restaurant locations.

Within a few months, he plans to open another “California Italian” restaurant called Alfio’s in the mold of The Metropolitan Grill.

The 51-year-old Coco said he was at a point in his life that he wanted to get out of Missouri and experience a new place.

But, he said, he plans to visit Springfield occasionally.

“I couldn’t be happier with Springfield,” Coco said. “Everybody’s been great. They’ve been like family to me.”

Emotionally, physically taxing

James Clary, who has ownership in three Springfield restaurants: Clary’s Restaurant, Gallery Bistro and Fish, said that he can understand why longtime restaurateurs such as Powell and Coco would want a change.

“Any business owner will tell you the thought of selling their business crosses their mind, particularly after a long day,” Clary said, noting that he has no plans to sell any of his restaurants. “Fred and Suze had done this a long time.”

The 46-year-old Clary said the restaurant business is hard emotionally and physically and that he’ll likely turn to other endeavors such as consulting and writing before he turns 60.

“I can’t see myself doing this in 15 years,” he said. “It’s too hard on you.”

Rumors that the Jalili family – proprietors of Flame, Touch, Bijan’s and Midnight Rodeo – are looking to sell their businesses are untrue, according to Billy Jalili. However, he said, any deal is possible in the future.

“We don’t have anything on the market,” Billy Jalili said. “We’re not actively showing (our businesses) but if somebody comes along and gives us a great offer, of course, you’re not going to turn it down.”

The Jalili’s also own an Andy’s Frozen Custard franchise, the location for which is under construction in Branson.[[In-content Ad]]