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La Casbah stops serving its Moroccan food in Potsdam after equipment repossessed; bar still operating

Posted 10/6/12

By CRAIG FREILICH POTSDAM – The restaurant at La Casbah, 6 Elm St. has closed, but the bar will remain open and music performances will continue. The ground floor space, at 4,000 square feet, is …

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La Casbah stops serving its Moroccan food in Potsdam after equipment repossessed; bar still operating

Posted

By CRAIG FREILICH

POTSDAM – The restaurant at La Casbah, 6 Elm St. has closed, but the bar will remain open and music performances will continue.

The ground floor space, at 4,000 square feet, is for rent, and co-owner Alex Bennani says he and his partners will entertain offers for the whole business and building.

Bennani said that since they got behind in payments for a development loan arranged by the village, the creditors have required clearance to sell off the restaurant’s equipment.

“We got behind because we couldn’t afford to pay the loan,” Bennani said.

La Casbah’s partners spent nearly two years working on the inside of the building, opening on Valentine’s Day 2008. The restaurant featured a wide range of North African and Continental fare.

Now the bar will continue operating upstairs Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with musical acts on some nights.

“We didn’t come here to serve alcohol, and we don’t like it,” that the food part of the business is gone, Bennani said.

If they do find a buyer for the business, Bennani said he is willing to help out the new owners, particularly if it will mean “continuing to have the name Casbah in the North Country.”