D'Amico Kitchen is checking out of the Le Meridien Chambers hotel.
D'Amico & Partners, which has managed the hotel's food and beverage operations since mid-2009, is not renewing its lease, said company president Richard D'Amico in a statement.
"We've been in discussions with D'Amico and anticipating this transition for a while," said hotel general partner Ralph Burnet in a statement, adding that he expects to name a new food and beverage partner in the next few weeks, after details are finalized. "We plan to bring something fresh and exciting to the downtown restaurant mix. I think the Twin Cities dining community will be pleased."
D'Amico cited company expansion as a reason for the departure.
"We've opened three new restaurants in the past couple of years, and we're planning to open another new restaurant concept in 2013," he said.
The hospitality giant operates 20 restaurants in the Twin Cities and Florida, including Campiello, Cafe Lurcat and Bar Lurcat, Masa, D'Amico & Sons, Gather at the Walker Art Center, Mezzanine at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Parma 8200. The company's latest opening took place two weeks ago, its second Masa, located in Naples, Fla.
D'Amico Kitchen employees were notified late last week of the restaurant's closing.
The restaurant's last day of operation is Jan. 13. D'Amico Kitchen (pictured, above, in a Star Tribune file photo), which emphasizes contemporary Italian fare, opened in July 2009. It replaced the hotel's original restaurant, Chambers Kitchen, which was operated by star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The 60-room hotel, located at Hennepin Av. and 9th St. in downtown Minneapolis, opened in 2004.
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