Holiday lights are still strung above the bar and artwork adorns the walls of Ric's Cafe in the River Center plaza. But the whiteboard, normally filled with the day's dining specials, is clean, a sign that business is not as usual at the longtime Foothills eatery.
A legal notice posted on the front door tells the full story: Ric's has been "lawfully locked" by the landlord and all assets in the premises seized as part of a lien for unpaid debts.
Don Baker, whose firm Larsen-Baker owns the River Center shopping center at East River and North Craycroft roads, said the restaurant was in arrears. He would not elaborate except to say that rent checks had bounced.
Ric's owner, Jack Ahern, also would not comment on Wednesday. But in a recording left on the business's phone, Ahern said Ric's closed because of ongoing construction at River Center. The message said to leave your name and number if you were interested in catering services.
Ric's, 5605 E. River Road, has been enduring construction woes for years. First came a Pima County roads project that snarled the corner of East River and North Craycroft roads and dragged on for years.
Construction encroached even closer last year, when work began in the summer on a new Whole Foods grocery store. Baker said that store is expected to open Jan. 16.
The Whole Foods project has made parking in River Center difficult; much of the lot has been blocked off, forcing customers to park in the dirt lot across North Craycroft Road.
River Center has five restaurants, including Skybox Restaurant & Bar. Other tenants include the Dusenberry-River Branch of Pima County library.
Ric's had been open at River Center since the 1990s. Ahern cooked at the restaurant for several years before buying it 11 years ago.
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@azstarnet.com or 573-4642.
