If anyone needed further proof that Bart Blatstein doesn't belong in this or any other neighborhood (above and beyond his crappy, slipshod and hugely overpriced apartments), just take a look at how he screwed over Laura and all the staffers at Deuce.

No one worked harder or more imaginatively for Tower than Laura, and while Deuce had its problems, she managed to push it to the top rank of the neighborhood's destination restaurants and was giving the restaurant a national presence.

Bart Blatstein is a selfish bully who uses the money he screwed out of hapless renters to crap all over the people who worked hardest for him and for Northern Liberties. Anyone who does business with Blatstein will get screwed over as well--just ask all the contractors and laborers who built his buildings and still can't get paid.

Oh, and Owen Kamahira...if you're really teaming up with Bart to take over Deuce, be prepared to lose that and Bar Ferdinand as well. You're too good to get involved with Blatstein. We all are.

Huh?

Read the Rachel Ray thread (which I had skipped, not being a Rachel Ray person) so cleared it up, but at least one person on that thread is saying people at Deuce have no idea what CC Rider's talking about.

Straight dope, anyone?

yes its very true, unfortunately. We are losing a good addition to this neighborhood because of the slimy way Bart Blatstein does "business".

I apologize for being unclear. Deuce will close at end of day Sunday, for no real reason other than Bart Blatstein is taking out his personal vendetta on owner Laura Vernola.

The temptation is to call for a boycott of the Liberties Walk Springtacular (which Laura created) but the shopowners there already suffer enough by having Bart as a landlord.

Instead, I suggest that, if Deuce is indeed closed when the event takes place, Deuce-lovers and Bart-haters alike should take time to "decorate" the front of Deuce the same way traffic fatalities are memorialized.

As Bart's turning Northern Liberties into one big car-wreck anyway, this seems morbidly appropriate to me.

Yes it is true the Deuce is closing it's doors this Sunday. It's best not to make assumptions about why we have closed. There are too many factors that played into Deuce closing so please, please don't make this into a "I Hate Bart Blatstein" thing

I am grateful for all the support Deuce has gotten over the years but PLEASE DO NOT boycott Liberties Walk, The walk is all first time business owners who all require neighborhood support!

Thanks again for all the support and negative and positive feed back over the years :)

Wow, I am really sorry to hear that you are closing! It seemed like the restaurant was getting a lot of business and you were well liked throughout the neighborhood. You will certainly be missed.

I'll really miss the deuce burger! Laura your attitude is great...thats why you will be awesome at what ever you do next.

That sucks to hear.

I've enjoyed Deuce and Laura was always attentive to me and my buddies.

She'll be missed.

Good luck to her and Todd on their future endeavors.

Mike

I am sorry to hear that Laura had to deal with that ASS -Bart. Laura showed my company a space in NL (2nd SpringGarden)and she was plesant and very helpful. A true joy to work with. She than informed us about Deuce. Laura if you read this I am the sista who told you the cheesesteak eggrolls were great. Oh and if it makes you feel better Laura we screwed Bart out of the lease to that place. We will miss Deuce in the neighborhood and you.

I'm sorry to hear Deuce is gone. I loved that place! Any chance it opens in another location? What am I going to do without those burgers??!

^ i was just about to ask the same. i recently fell for deuce, what with the new chef. and always loved the service there and the open mic night.
what about all that space being developed up on girard? the old isla ibiza location? what about my fave corner, 5th and poplar, where wine-o seems to have given up? just an idea. best of luck whatever the circumstances.

Apparently none of you fools ever had the pleasure of working for the witch Laura. She deserves what she got. She constantly talks to people like they are worthless. She treated her employees terribly and talked behind their backs on a constant basis and could care less whether or not they worked for her. She finally talked down to the wrong person. Mind you I am certainly not a fan of that pompus ass Bart either but she is not much better than he is. It's terrible somebody had to f@#k up a goldmine like that was! Karma is a ******** isn't it.

I was at Deuce for the final closing night on Sunday. The place was packed, and there was a lot of hugging, exchanging of numbers and bittersweet laughter.

Most impressive was Laura. She presided over everything with grace, dignity and humor. She was even warm and welcoming to the people from Tower.

By doing so, she showed how taking the high road lifts you above the fray. The people who destroyed Deuce and everything Laura built up over the years could learn a lot from how she handled herself on closing night.

Our neighborhood is losing a lot more than just a restaurant here.

I have dealt with Laura. I was at a bank and mentioned i didn't like liberties walk and was then on the spot banned from Deuce. My friend went there, had a few drinks and made a joke "lets take a Deuce" and was kicked out and banned as well. If your dumb enough to name your business that,then be able to take the drunk idiots who will take a chuckle about it. On a side note swallow? whats up with these names.. Whats the next place going to be called.. anal?

Slick One, Swallow is named after the bird. I'm guessing the giant sign with the Swallow image didn't give that away though.......
I wonder why you got banned from Deuce....

I never even saw the sign. I just heard about it opening. I literally got banned from Deuce because i said to someone else i don't like liberties walk. I the design is terrible for starters. Now im sure if i showed up she would of never recognized me, but it was enough for me not wanting to go. Enough for me to tell everyone I know not to go. If Laura is that petty, I am glad I never had the dis-pleasure of supporting her business

sickone: That's simply not believable, unless you were vomiting on the floor at the time.

That i never saw the swallow sign or that I had such a terrible experience with Laura. But I assure it happened.

Insults asside, it is nearly impossible to see any of the signs for any of the stores on Liberties walk(Duece and Bar Ferdinan) asside, only b/c they are on 2nd street). It kind of reminds me of Dorms constructed in the 70's. Unless you live here and read this board you would never know that anything existed there. I remember the first time i tried to find the music store, i must of walked by it 4 or 5 times, before realizing where it was. But hey maybe they were constructed in a fahion that ensures failure so the lanlord can collect on a person's personal assets

I am sad to see Deuce go - it was an integral part of this "new" neighborhood and a hub of activity for local residents; the vibe, expecially in those outdoorsy warm days, was cozy and welcoming - and many friendships were made and strengthened there. I think Laura deserves an emormous amount of recognition for her efforts and her ability to create and maintain that type of environment - especially considering she was a first-time restauranteur. I have zero doubt that she will ultimately benefit from this experience, making her next endeavor all the better. To the Deuce staff and regulars, I will miss you, and this ain't the $1.75 "Champagne Of Beers" talking...

I worked with Laura for over a year and have nothing but nice things to say about her. She is an incredibly strong, intelligent woman who taught me a lot. Yes, she has high expectations of her co-workers and employees, as well she should. Maybe this is why I usually found the service at Deuce to be far better than places such as the Abbaye and Standard Tap (establishments I also frequent and enjoy). being hard on someone and treating them disrespectfully is quite different, and honestly I can never say that I was treated with disrespect by her. As a Northern Liberties neighbor Laura has done quite a bit for this community and the businesses within it and that should not be forgotten. No matter how you feel about Laura, it is a horrible thing to wish failure on a first time business owner who has put their heart and soul into a project. I will keep my opinions regarding the other parties involved to myself out of respect for a woman and business that I feel were a great addition to the neighborhood. I wish Laura much luck in the future and hope that someday soon I will be able to once again enjoy an establishment owned by her.

Laura and the staff at Deuce,

Thank you for so many enjoyable evenings spent with friends. I wish you all the best moving forwards.

I am really sad to see Deuce closing and even sadder that I did not get to enjoy the burger one last time...Please reopen somewhere close! You were my favorite spot in the neighborhood!