A prime piece of real estate at the intersection of Saxthorpe Avenue and Constant Spring Road in St Andrew is now vacant following the departure of popular alfresco restaurant Rib Kage.

Rib Kage owner Dave Brown informed the Business Observer yesterday that the restaurant had vacated the 30,000 square-feet premises because the property owners had indicated to him that they wanted the property for their personal use.

“They had said from last year that they were interested in redeveloping the property,” said Brown. “They said they were ready now and we couldn’t coexist while that was going on… so we have given them the property and moved on.”

Rather than searching for a new venue immediately, Brown will consolidate Rib Kage’s restaurant and bar operations at its other branch on Braemar Avenue in New Kingston, a decision the owner said was influenced by the weak economy.

“We also looked at the economy at this time and thought it was best to consolidate everything at our Braemar Avenue location,” he said, adding “we’ll watch the economy to see how it goes and then look at branching out again.”

However, the consolidation excercise will result in at least 15 employees — approximately 50 per cent of the staff compliment — from the Constant Spring/Saxthorpe location losing their jobs.

“We’ll be downsizing some of the staff unfortunately,” said Brown. “That’s one of the challenges and one of the harder parts of this whole excercise.”

Rib Kage was launched 14 years ago, with the opening of the Constant Spring/Saxthorpe branch. To get closer to what they said was their corporate clientele, the management of Rib Kage opened its second restaurant on Braemar Avenue in the New Kingston business district at the end of 2006. The new location has indoor dining which features a private meeting/dining room and also an indoor bar and lounge.