The Crown and Goose is located at 123 S. Central St. (News Sentinel photo)

SHARE J. MILES CARY/NEWS SENTINEL

By Mary Constantine of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Jeffrey Nash, proprietor of The Crown and Goose, 123 S. Central St., has confirmed that ownership of the restaurant has been transferred to Aubrey's Inc. Randy Burleson is the owner of Aubrey's Inc., which includes Bistro by the Tracks, Barley's, Stefano's, Drink, Sunspot, Fieldhouse Social and all Aubrey's locations.

Nash, who is founder of the restaurant and principal of The Courtland Group, said the reason for the sale was primarily based on his lack of time to grow the brand.

"To be honest, both my business and my wife's business (Patricia Nash of Patricia Nash Designs), are growing at such an unbelievable pace that we didn't have the time to grow The Crown and Goose like we really feel it should be grown. The brand is very good and something that we feel has legs to take to another level. Randy has been a long acquaintance of mine and is absolutely the right person to take the brand forward, grow it and take it to another level, " Nash said. The Nash family opened the Old City business in 2008.

Burleson said he's excited to be a part of The Crown and Goose brand, a concept that he has "admired forever."

"The Crown and Goose is a great brand and Aubrey's will be the support system to hopefully continue to make The Crown and Goose the best restaurant in the Old City. There are already wonderful established restaurants there like the Jig and Reel and Barley's Tap Room and the soon-to-be Tim Love Restaurants. We are happy to be a part of it," he said.

Burleson said there are no changes planned for The Crown and Goose operation.

"We wanted to make sure that everything is good for our exceptionally good and loyal staff members. Randy is a great employer and we are delighted for them that he is now going to be their employer. In fact, to be honest, every member of the staff will now have a better opportunity and better future than they probably had before," Nash said.

The restaurant's executive chef/partner, Jeffrey DeAlejandro, posted on his Facebook page that the sale of the restaurant will free him up to put more focus on the OliBea restaurant brand.

"I will be focusing on OliBea growth and some new thing to come with that. And I get to spend quality time with my kids and wife," he wrote.