Scene Magazine, Published June 18, 2003
Elaine T. Cicora

Most of the time, when "dreams collapse," the phrase is purely metaphorical. Not so for would-be restaurateur Andy Himmel. When he says plans for his Larchmere Avenue restaurant, Boulevard Blue, fell through, he's not kidding.

"It was horrible," a still-shaken Himmel said of the June 2 disaster that destroyed the building. "I never imagined anything like this could happen."

The old brick edifice, owned by local entrepreneur Lynne Alfred, was being remodeled as a future home for Himmel's restaurant when the roof caved in, taking the rest of the building with it. (No one was injured; experts suspect heavy rains contributed to the destruction.) Today, where the upscale jazz club and eatery was expected to stand, there's nothing to see but a wreckage-strewn hole.

Alfred, owner of The Dancing Sheep boutique next door, intends to rebuild.

"She really believes in the area," Himmel said, "and she's not going to let this project die." And in the long run, Himmel admits, building from the ground up could have some benefits. "Now we have the chance to move the front of the restaurant back from the street a few more feet," he said, "and we'll have more room to install a really nice patio."

Himmel hopes the new building can be completed by the end of the year. "After all, the demolition is already done, and we didn't even have to get a permit." In the meantime, he and his chef, Scott Wuennemann, plan to launch a catering operation; for more info on Boulevard Blue Catering, call 216-483-1623.