Food and Drinq

Leigh Maida and Brendan Hartranft report that they have signed a lease for the spot at 44th and Spruce formerly known as Kelliann's. They say they will open a "neighborhood beer bar and kitchen" called Local 44.

They say Local 44 will be a "completely independent operation from Memphis Taproom, with very little overlap in concept, outside of the neighborhood beer bar that we'd most like to hang out at vibe."

Local 44 will focus on craft beer from around the world, with a nod to locals as well. We will have an extensive and exciting draught beer list. "Our kitchen plans are small scale, in the neighborhood 'pub grub' vein," Leigh says.

There is a spaceholder Web site up: www.local44beerbar.com

You may remember how Owen Kamihira of Bar Ferdinand and soon-to-be El Camino Real previously had announced plans to open his own gastropub called Local 44 at the very same location. Kamihira never signed the lease. These projects are separate. Leigh describes the same-name situation as an unfortunate coincidence -- "one it seems both parties came to independently."

(I am out of the country, so when I hear back from Kamihira, I will post.)