Steve McFadden's Grumpy Goat and Boomer's both sold to new owners

Steve McFadden, a controversial local restaurateur, recently sold two of his restaurants.

Driving the news: Grumpy Goat Tavern in Ankeny and Boomer's Bicycle Lounge in West Des Moines sold to new owners who are transforming the locations into different restaurants.

• Boomer's was sold on March 1 to Tony Konecne, who recently reopened it as Pelican Post Bar & Grille.
• Grumpy Goat will become a local sports bar under its new owners.

Flashback: McFadden was convicted last year of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and allegedly beating her until she was unconscious.

• He recently pleaded guilty, and also received probation for stalking a different ex-girlfriend using a GPS device.

State of play: The two restaurants were underperforming so they were put for sale last year, McFadden tells Axios.

• He still owns two other Grumpy Goat locations, Dough Mama Pizzeria, Fat Charlie's Tavern and Tipsy Crow.

What they're saying: Publicity regarding his criminal charges has hurt business, McFadden says, but the existing restaurants "are busy still," and supporters frequent his restaurants, he says.