Newell out at Elgin
Chef’s Plate abruptly closes; new coffee shop to replace Kari’s Kitchen
Staff writer
Chef’s Plate at Parlour 1886, the upscale restaurant in Historic Elgin Hotel operated by Kari Newell — whose complaint that her identity had been “stolen” led to a raid on the Marion County Record — permanently closed Monday.
A sign on the entrance of the Elgin says “Chef’s Plate is permanently closed. Stay tuned for exciting news about our restaurant Parlour 1886.”
The hotel’s website says, “Our Elgin team will continue to serve breakfast to our hotel guests on Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m., and midweek breakfast options will continue to be available for our hotel guests as they have been.”
Newell bought the restaurant in January 2023.
Hotel co-owner Tammy Ensey, asked Tuesday morning, would not say anything further about what was coming for Parlour 1886.
When she was called for comment, Newell hung up the phone as soon as a reporter identified herself.
Newell formerly operated a coffee shop, Kari’s Kitchen, in an 1887 house owned by Ensey’s parents, Duke and Glenda McCord, across 3rd St. from the hotel.
The third coffee shop to operate in the house since 2019, Kari’s Kitchen closed in January. At the time, Newell cited expenses being too high to keep going and a sharp drop in business after the August raid.
The McCords recently sold the house to Kirsten Dahlgren, formerly of Vermont. Dahlgren said Tuesday that she planned to open a coffee shop by the end of June.