The Saddle has Split

Picture:
Kris Ryan (second right) and Luga (far right) celebrate happy times with the rest of the Rickshaw/Saddle crowd at the 2007 that’s Beijing Bar and Club Awards.

A large number of partygoers (and the police) turned up to The Saddle last Friday, to see the famed Mexican restaurant/bar ride off into the sunset for the last time. Or so we thought.

It turns out that Luga, the gregarious pint-sized manager of The Rickshaw and The Saddle, has turned his back on longtime partner and Saddle owner Kris Ryan and decided to open up his own Mexican-themed bar in The Saddle’s location. Luga has recruited the Saddle’s chef, negotiated for a lower rent and decided to keep the same menu, all to the amazement of Kris. Luga and Kris have been working together for over two years, in which Kris trained him up from lowly bartender to manager. Luga delivered the news, along with his resignation, in a letter today to Rickshaw manager Chad Lager, stating that he was going to run the Saddle for himself.

Links and Sources:
The Beijinger Forum: The Saddle - Ouch