Common Law Shuttered at Pine Street Market

Common Law, one of the nine food businesses in the new downtown food hall Pine Street Market, closed today. The restaurant came from Patrick McKee, the former long-time chef at Paley's Place, with help from local food icon Earl Ninsom (Langbaan, PaaDee, Hat Yai), and featured the "common-law marriage" of Asian flavors and French cooking techniques.

Speaking with Eater, Ninsom says Common Law just wasn't the right fit for Pine Street Market. The Common Law concept will live on, but for now, McKee will spend more time with family, with a kiddo on the way.

Ninsom, on the other hand, is sticking to the Pine Street Market space, and he's pulling in two established restaurateurs for the project: Han Ly Hwang, who owns the Korean street food food trucks Kim Jong Grillin', and B.J. Smith, owner of Smokehouse 21 and Smokehouse Tavern.

"We're still in the testing phase," says Ninsom. He says the new concept will almost definitely involve smoked meats and Korean sides—and beer. "We're going to change the look of the space and take out the full bar," he says. "We'll add refrigeration and more prep space."

As of today, Common Law is closed. No opening date for the new project has been announced, but you will likely be able to taste it soon. Ninsom says, "We're going to open as soon as possible."