Aaron Sánchez Has Cut Ties with John Besh in CBD Restaurant Partnership

Aaron Sánchez, Food Network personality and half of the team that opened hip downtown Mexican eatery Johnny Sanchez in 2014, has cut ties with disgraced local chef and restaurateur John Besh, the restaurant’s other original partner.

According to The Advocate, over the weekend Sanchez and his new business partners confirmed they had completed a purchase of the restaurant, effectively pushing Besh out of the business. The move is the latest development in the fallout from a NOLA.com investigation published last year that revealed a culture of sexual harassment at Besh Restaurant Group, including behavior perpetrated by Besh himself.

Sánchez has partnered with the chef at Johnny Sanchez, Miles Landrem, and Drew Mire, previously a manager at Besh Restaurant Group, now renamed BRG Hospitality. They plan to rename the restaurant.

The three are also planning to develop a second, more casual restaurant in Mid City. NOLA.com reports that public records show a company registered to Mire bought a building at 5022 Bienville St. in November for $600,000.

Do you have a hot restaurant tip? Noticed a spot in your neighborhood opening or closing? Send an email.

Looking for restaurant recs or a place to chat about favorite restaurants? Join Eater NOLA’s Facebook group.

• John Besh out at Johnny Sanchez; chef Aaron Sanchez, partners to run New Orleans restaurant [ADVOCATE]
• John Besh restaurants fostered culture of sexual harassment, 25 women say [NOLA.COM]
• John Besh out at Johnny Sanchez restaurant in wake of sexual harassment scandal: report [NOLA.COM]