Author Ann Bauer has shared a purported indicator of a neighborhood's quality, a method attributed to Minnesota businessman Philip Roberts. Roberts, known for founding restaurants such as Buca di Beppo and Oceanaire, reportedly would assess potential business locations by looking at the windows of nearby homes. According to Bauer's account on X, Roberts considered a neighborhood desirable if its houses had curtains. If windows were covered by shades, blinds, sheets, or were bare, he would reportedly move on.
Roberts' strategy, as relayed by Bauer, also included a specific red flag: a large, expensive house with cheap blinds. This, he believed, suggested financial mismanagement and a potential for foreclosure. Bauer herself stated she frequently employs this rule.
The advice, however, proved contentious among social media users. One commenter questioned the protocol for houses with both curtains and blinds, to which Bauer responded that cheap, perpetually tilted blinds were a negative sign. The debate intensified with some users criticizing the method as classist and superficial, with one user suggesting it reflected a focus on material wealth and a disconnect from employees who might live in such neighborhoods.
Roberts, who sold Buca di Beppo to Planet Hollywood International for $28.5 million in 2008, has a long history in the restaurant industry. He co-founded Parasole Restaurant Holdings and developed numerous concept-driven establishments in the Twin Cities. While some of his ventures, like Salut Bar, Burger Jones, and Chino Latino, have closed for various reasons, often citing pandemic-related struggles and increased operational costs, Bauer defended Roberts' perspective by noting his continued international travel funded by the sale of Buca di Beppo.
Roberts' career has seen both successes and failures. His hospitality group, Parasole Restaurant Holdings, was the subject of a near-acquisition by FS Funds in 2020, a deal that ultimately fell through. The group currently operates five establishments in Minneapolis and Edina. Meanwhile, Buca di Beppo, his former Italian chain, has undergone multiple sales and bankruptcies, with its number of locations significantly reduced from its peak.
Roberts has been credited with introducing diverse and concept-heavy dining experiences to the Midwest since the 1970s. His portfolio included upscale seafood at The Oceanaire, Asian-Latin fusion at Chino Latino, and French-inspired bistros like Salut Bar Americain. The changing urban landscape, particularly the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on areas like Minneapolis's Uptown neighborhood, has led to the closure of several establishments, including Roberts' Chino Latino and Figlio. Some of these former restaurant spaces have since been repurposed or remain vacant.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Phil Roberts and Ann Bauer for comment.