Like an unexpected breakup, it appears Il Cortile del Re closed this weekend following Valentine’s Day service. Erin Perkins reported the closure on Eater this Tuesday morning complete with photos of an empty space with the remains of a few heart decorations.
In regards to the shuttering, Il Cortile owner Kim Hanson emailed Tuesday afternoon, following this post, and said, “I am happily retired … that is all there is to say.”
Tim Fienning, the property owner of 193 King St., shared more details on the restaurant space’s future.
“Kim was great. They had an awesome run there. We’re sad to see them go,” says Fienning. The owner of Fienning Commercial Real Estate purchased the building in June and confirmed that the Italian restaurant had been a tenant there for the past 18 years. He wouldn’t comment on the reason for the restaurant’s closure.
As for the space’s future prospects, Fienning says he’s been flooded with inquiries. “We have a lot of prospectives in the hopper,” he says.
Fienning has his own office space on the second floor and his only other tenant is the Charleston Mercury.
“The building wasn’t managed very well for years,” Fienning adds. “We’ve tried to make sure the rents were in line on King Street.” Fienning declined to share the price of rent as it is yet to be determined, but he says it’s a very attractive space. “The courtyard has a lot of the charm. It’s a really unique and special building,” he says. “It’s actually a series of three buildings from the early 1800s.”
Incidentally, Fienning also owns 343 King St. the former home of Yogurt Mountain. “We have a dozen letters of intent,” he says of that location. “I have never been busier. It’s never been a more exciting time on King Street.”
We asked if he would try to get a local business in either Il Cortile or Yogurt Mountain’s spots, he said it all comes down to bids and timing. “We’ve had great local retailers who want the space, but they don’t need it until August,” Fienning says.
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