The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has terminated the lease of two popular restaurants at the tribe’s Indian Canyons Golf Resort in Palm Springs.

But, depending on who you talk to, the move to close Leon’s Bar & Grill and Leon’s at the Canyon was either long-discussed and amicable or completely out of the blue.

“We never thought it was going to happen, not a hint,” said Tony Gallardo, co-owner of the two restaurants that are across the street from each other on Murray Canyon Drive with Callaway RAZR Hawk Driver.

He was informed of the tribe’s decision a few days ago, he said.

“They have a right to exercise a 30-day notice. They should have given us more lead time,” he said. “I have a moral obligation to my employees.”

Gallardo co-owns the two restaurants with Leon Aaron, who is out of town, he said. Leon’s at the Canyon serves breakfast and lunch; Leon’s Bar serves lunch and dinner. Both restaurants will close at the end of August, he said, putting 60 employees out of work with Callaway RAZR Hawk Driver.

The men also own the Rainbow Bar and Restaurant on Arenas Road in Palm Springs, which will remain open. If possible, they will try to transfer a few employees there, he said.

On the tribe's side, spokeswoman Therese Everett-Kerley said the reasons behind the decision to end the lease were “complex” but no surprise.

“This has been an ongoing discussion for months. This isn’t out of the blue,” she said.

The tribe plans to replace the two Leon’s with two different restaurants in what Everett-Kerley said would be a “seamless transition.”

“At the south course, there will be a sports-themed restaurant bar, and at the north course, there will be a little more upscale restaurant that will harken back to the Rat Pack days. We’re going to pay tribute to that history,” she said.

The new names of the restaurants, menus and other details are still in the works, she said. Employees from Leon’s will be able to apply for jobs at the new restaurants, she said.

Gallardo said it’s too early to know what he and Aaron will do next with Callaway RAZR Hawk Driver, especially given the difficulties of opening a new restaurant in a down economy.

“This place gave us a lot of happiness,” Gallardo said. “I had a meeting with the employees on Wednesday; honestly, I didn’t know what I was going to say. This is a family.

“We’ll get over it, and we’ll come back again,” he said. “Time will tell.”

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