Cafe Diem falls to Murphy Group

Remember Cafe Diem, the summer-only coffee shop on Victoria Row in Charlottetown? Well after its initial multi-year run as a Rodney Jones joint, followed by a summer managed by Mamdouh Elgharib, this summer, sources say, it will be operated by The Murphy Group, another step in their complete assimilation of all Charlottetown eateries.

If you’re confused, remember there’s always the handy Which Murphy is Which? page.

Comments

Joe Blow's picture
Joe Blow on April 3, 2009 - 17:24 Permalink

You may also want to make of the former Islander Motor Lodge and the former Stanhope Beach Lodge. The word on the street is that they are now both owned and operated by one or more of the Murphys.

DerekMac's picture
DerekMac on April 3, 2009 - 17:26 Permalink

Just had lunch at a Murphy restaurant (hard not to these days!). They tell me that they are keeping the same name, at least for this summer, and will run it basically the same way — coffee and very light lunches, but will increase the specialty coffee complement, and endeavor to sell more alcoholic beverages. Due to their unsuccess in keeping Castella’s and Fishbones open into the winter, Diem will remain a summer-only endeavor.

Note also that the former Brennans on the Row is being taken over by the owner of Hunter’s, and Hunter’s manager, Stevie Barber. They are planning a “best of the world” type menu.

DerekMac's picture
DerekMac on April 3, 2009 - 17:28 Permalink

And don’t forget Danny’s new Hampton Inn and Suites, near the Costco in Moncton.

Anthony's picture
Anthony on July 15, 2010 - 15:11 Permalink

Just to clarify, Mamdouh never sold the cafe to the Murphy Group; he just subleased it to them. I currently work with him at Cafe Diem, and he told me that, after how many years in the restaurant business (he used to own Meekos that existed just down the street), he wanted to take a summer off just to see if he preferred not being a business owner. Clearly, he doesn’t :P

Lellen's picture
Lellen on July 14, 2013 - 16:16 Permalink

Café Diem is no more and is now called Ristorante Diem owned by Mamdouh. It’s totally awesome — great service, wonderful location, and the food is, well, lovely.