AmPm in downtown Dallas’ Mosaic now open for lunch and catering only

by Teresa Gubbins

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And we can't guarantee the lunch.

Sign on AmPm door

DALLAS — AmPm, the glossy restaurant-bar in the troubled Mosaic building in downtown Dallas, has shut down dinner service and is switching its operating mode from full-time restaurant to lunch-spot and catering operation.

Despite the fact that there's been a sign taped to the door stating that the venue is "closed for a private event," owner Chad Willis says AmPm is in a transitional phase, brought on by a dispute with the Mosaic's new owners, Houston-based Kaplan Management.

"We're not closing, we still have [chef] Tommy Simpson and the executive team," Willis said. "We're still having nightlife and private events, charity events, birthday parties, we're still doing that, and we're still doing catering for buildings downtown. We did reach a contract for buffet lunches. We haven't closed down, we're just transitioning our business model because of inconveniences we’ve suffered to something that's more sustainable in our current environment."

Kaplan bought the Mosaic building in August after it was foreclosed in May. According to Willis and other tenants of the building, none of whom wished to be quoted, the new management company is alleging that the current leases are no longer valid. Other tenants in the building include Pulse Fitness, Backbeat Cafe, and the new taco shop, Taco Borracho.

"They're saying, 'We don't recognize your lease,' and basically holding hostage your current business," Willis said. "They gave all of the [tenants] that would not conform a notice to vacate. Obviously we have the right to be there, so we're going to court."

AmPm's lounge action has been brisk, hosting numerous celebrity-studded parties and charity events such as the NBA AllStar weekend in February attended by Carmen Electra and Holly Madison, and a gala attended by Nicky Hilton in May.

Kaplan was unavailable for comment.