Monte's, Rip's Place for Ribs close doors

Two of the Vero Beach island's better-known restaurants, Monte's and Rip's Place for Ribs, both unexpectedly closed their doors following Sunday dinner July 13th -- and the future looks highly uncertain.

The two neighboring restaurants on South Ocean Drive were purchased several years ago by Rip Tosun, a former president of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and a partner who died a year ago. Since the partner's death, the businesses have been up for sale.

On July 19th, phone calls to the two restaurants were answered with a four-word message that said: "The restaurant is closed." A simple homemade paper sign in the doorway of each restaurant also said: "Closed."

With kitchen and wait staff from the two restaurants making the rounds the past few days looking for new positions, it seemed highly unlikely either restaurant would soon come back to life.

But Tosun, whom we finally reached late today, said he had sold both properties to a group of local attorneys three weeks ago. He said the new group wants to reopen Monte's, and Tosun said he had agreed to run it on their behalf.

He said the sale to the attorneys, whom he declined to identify, is scheduled to close Aug. 15th.

"This is very difficult," Tosun said, "but things will get better."

Tosun said he understands that the buyers have another restaurant group interested in taking over the building that housed Rip's, who would open a restaurant with a new name and a different dining concept.

Sources close to Tosun earlier said business had picked up for Monte’s after the closing of the South Beach Grill (Charlie Brown’s) at the height of last season. But by April, they said, the numbers were not looking good.

Rip’s was struggling fiercely, the sources added, and with the two toughest off-season months ahead (August and September), the writing apparently was on the kitchen wall.

Tosun has not been in good health for several years, but the decision to pull the plug and sell the restaurants was made for financial reasons, the sources added.

Even if Monte's is reopened, sources say that when the real estate market picks up, both restaurant properties will probably be developed as condominiums.