Last week it was Starr Hill, this week it’s Fuel Co., as it appears our establishments bankrolled by multi-millionaire philanthropists are dropping like flies!
When Patricia’s Kluge’s Fuel Co. opened in 2003, the Hook boldly predicted that the designer gas station and bistro concept would go national, but now it appears the fancy fill-up joint won’t even be going local. In a prepared statement, Kluge has announced that Fuel Co. has closed its doors. Indeed, the doors were locked and the windows papered over on June 30. The statement suggests Fuel Co. may not have been pulling its financial weight, as the decision was based on wanting to focus more on the Kluge Estate Winery and Vineyard’s other ventures. However, no other details are being released at this time.
Still, the closure comes as a shock…and a bit of mystery. Just last November, the bistro closed for a week for extensive renovations. Apologizing for the inconvenience, Kluge said in a prepared statement, “The tradition of local food with a gourmet twist and the sleek look of Fuel Co. will remain.”