An Evans eatery is officially gone, but its owner now faces the onerous task of clearing everything out of the building by the end of the month.
Stay. Social Tap + Table closed its doors permanently on Friday, Dec. 30. Last month, Chief Judge James Blanchard upheld the Columbia County Commissioners’ decision to revoke the restaurant’s liquor license. Its owner, Renee Hajek, has begun selling a variety of items, such as cups and takeout containers. There were also some opened food items, such as condiments, Hajek couldn’t sell, so she gave those away.
“All the free stuff is gone,” Hajek said. “Most of the people who came by earlier this week wanted to stock up on grocery stuff.”
Loyal customers and anyone who never visited Stay now have one last chance to sample the restaurant’s cuisine. She posted on Facebook that she’s accepting bids on family meals, which include pulled pork sandwiches, French dips, and beef and chorizo tacos. The meals can either be delivered for free or picked up at Stay.
A similar restaurant in Atlanta that offers self-pour alcoholic beverages wants to buy the taps, but Hajek hopes they’ll also take the furniture.
“All the stuff will be sold; I just hope it all goes to that company,” she said.
There are some sentimental items Hajek won’t sell, such as her red couch and Dave Matthews Band memorabilia. Her restaurant was named after the band’s 1998 song, Stay (Wasting Time).
She said there’s no way to recoup the financial losses she has suffered, but she hopes selling off items will help.
“I’m just hoping to get the rest of Stay’s bills paid,” Hajek said. “I hope a new tenant is found quickly to minimize the financial burden on Meybohm.”
She asks that those interested in purchasing items from the restaurant follow its Facebook page for further details, such as dates and times they can pick up those items.
“We’ve had so many people call us or message us about individual things, and we don’t have time to respond to them,” Hajek said.
