Bringing a downtown concept to the far West End seemed like a tough sell from the beginning.

The Urban Tavern in the Gleneagles Shopping Center was airy and spacious, with the urban-rustic feel that diners and restaurateurs are so enamored with these days. It was a classic gastropub with a menu full of interesting riffs on comfort and pub food standards that stayed within the boundaries of expectations but gently pushed against them at the same time.

Owner Garland Taylor brought in a high-powered chef, Tim Bereika, formerly of Secco Wine Bar and Mosaic Catering, for his 10th restaurant. Bereika is a meticulous chef and is known for innovative pan-Mediterranean dishes that incorporate local and seasonal ingredients. The Urban Tavern’s menu seemed like it would be a no-brainer for him.

But Taylor’s experiment didn’t work out. The announcement came yesterday that the restaurant has closed its doors. Renovations are underway and a new concept is being formulated.

Bereika is still on board as executive chef. “Unfortunately,” he says, “this happens a lot more than people realize.”

His primary concern when he got the news from Taylor yesterday was to find jobs for his kitchen staff. He put calls out to restaurant owners around town and says he’s found positions for some of them and he’s hoping hear back and to place more in the next few days.

When asked what the new restaurant might be like, Bereika says that decision isn’t up to him. Taylor will move ahead with a plan when it’s ready. “I’ll be here to move the ball forward,” he says.

Taylor has received encouragement from the industry and customers to move the Urban Tavern into the city, but a location has yet to be set.

“I’m not happy to be at the end of something that didn’t work out,” Bereika says, “but I know I did a good job with the concept and I make good food. I’m ready to move on to the next one.”