Toasting the Purp: Community at large patronizes iconic bar and grill on its final weekend

A stack of barstools and a notice of closure graces the entry way of the Purple Place after failed lease negotiations forced the longtime location to shut down Sunday. For decades, locals have been patronizing the Purple Place Bar and Grill, whether it was to socialize over a cocktail and dance with friends on a Saturday night or enjoy a breakfast with family. This weekend was the final time that many in the community were able to enjoy either activity, as the iconic roadhouse has closed the doors at its longtime location. Since December, longtime owners Denise and Mike Hountalas have been in lease negotiations with property owner Amy Anders. While the Hountalas family had hoped they would work out a deal to stay in business at the current location, last week they announced that Sunday was to be their final day of business at the large purple building at 363 Green Valley Road in El Dorado Hills, just past the Sacramento County line. Friday afternoon, the Hontalases released a statement to local media that Sunday, Aug. 21 would be their last day of operation and explained that they: "Have been in lease negotiations with Ms. Anders since December 2021. We offered more than double the current rent, which is comparable to the newer rent prices in El Dorado Hills, and a commitment to make a large capital investment toward property improvement," read the statement. "Negotiations ended earlier this month with Ms. Anders demanding a rent increase of over 240%, and a large unspecified Common Area Maintenance. In addition to a demand for upwards of $200,000 in structural improvements." According to Denise Hountalas, they made several offers to Anders in the negotiations. She said they offered to pay double the rent to be in alignment with other properties in the area. They also offered to buy the property or sell the business to her, all of which were reportedly turned down. The original Purple Place has been located in its current location for decades. Anders' mother, Diana, and partner Dan Evans opened the expanded restaurant portion of the establishment in 1985, later selling the business to VMJ Restaurants Inc. while the family retained ownership of the property.In 2006, the Hountalas family purchased the restaurant and the bar and have been operating it ever since. The couple also owns and operates Poor Red's in El Dorado.As the new lease approached, negotiations began late last year. What started as a private business matter then became public in July when it was noticed that the large neon sign had been removed from the building and word got out that a battle was brewing between the two parties, making the popular eatery's future uncertain.Back in July, Denise Hountalas explained that the sign had been removed for safekeeping when the lease negotiations became difficult. Even at that time, she stated that their "desire was to execute a new lease which would allow them to continue operations at the present location." Those hopes have since diminished as Sunday marked the Hountalases' last time there that they would crack an egg on the grill or pour a cold one from the tap."We grew the struggling business into a successful community gathering place while we employed multiple generations of families and local high schoolers," Hountalas said in a previous Folsom Telegraph article back in July when the matter hit the headlines. While Anders would not disclose the negotiation's confidential financial details, she had said she too hoped they could come to an agreement since early on in the negotiations."I do not want to take their business away from them and I certainly don't want the community to lose a beloved, iconic landmark," Anders stated. "I gave them a proposal to extend their lease for 12 months while we continued negotiating terms and their response was to rip the sign off the building. I'm cast as the villain in this, that this is purely motivated by greed and that's not true. In fact, it's just the opposite. I'm really disappointed with my community. I feel like it's a Salem Witch Hunt." Anders has also explained that taking over the business herself could be an alternative should they not come to terms."If we fail to negotiate terms for a new lease, and if all else fails, I may try to start an employee-owned restaurant, fully owned by employees."Over the last month, the Purple Place has seen an onslaught of patrons over as news of its uncertainty reached the community. Many have paid visits to show their support and enjoy the popular spot, in case it did close down, which is now the case.The Hountalases hope that in the future, they can bring The Purple Place back in a new location.