Oliver Speck's in Harbor East is closed

Oliver Speck's Eats & Drinks has closed in Harbor East.

The last meal at the barbecue restaurant was Sunday dinner, according to executive chef Jesse Sandlin.

Sandlin said that there had been, in the past several months, internal discussions about possibly re-locating Oliver Speck's, but the restaurant's immediate future was uncertain on Monday morning.

Oliver Speck's owner Jim Lancaster confirmed that he is selling the business -- the equipment and the liquor license -- but not the Oliver Speck's trade name. Lancaster said he'd like to re-open the casual joint elsewhere --just about anywhere else but Harbor East.

"I just don't think [Oliver Speck's] is the right thing for [Harbor East]," Lancaster said. "We've looked at about a half-dozen places that really want us."

Oliver Speck's opened last July in the Bagby Building space that had been Vino Rosina, which was also owned by Lancaster. Sandlin helped open Vino Rosina in 2010 but left within a year, only to come back in November 2012.