As many of you may have noticed, Charlottesville’s favorite bartender has been MIA for weeks now.
Our beloved rock-star bartender Ted is changing venues for the second time this year and will be moving to the new “Midtown” location (formerly Southern Culture) where you have seen so much work being done over these past several weeks.
One of the two owners of Zocalo bought the location many months ago and put on his recruiting cap for this new venture in a potentially risky location (more on this later). Ted has left Ten to be head bartender at this new restaurant (whose name I haven’t learned yet) and the former head chef of Boar’s Head Inn will be leading the kitchen. There were very lucrative deals cut to entice these Cville heavy hitters and guarantee quite a bit of loyal clientele from both the Ted’s Downtown crowd and the Farmington folks. Unfortunately, construction is several weeks behind schedule and I think their hopes for an early summer opening have been dashed but they likely have a couple of more weeks to really hammer it out in time for a late May/early June opening.
In any case, this represents a very legitimate attempt to connect the disparate social ends of Charlottesville (with something other than townhomes) and should be interesting to see what other kind of growth it can fuel in the area.
Other things to think about:
The character of new venue(s) in this Midtown area will need to set itself apart somehow and how this will take shape is anyone’s guess.
- Are customers willing to take another cab ride if they don’t like the current scene at the bar (whereas downtown you just stroll to a different bar)?
- Are customers that drive going to park in the gravel lot across the street? How will they feel about this vs. parking in a “secure†asphalt lot Downtown?
- Will the large patio out front be as successful as the Zocalo people-watching patio?
I, for one, am looking forward to the opening of this new Midtown bar. Over the past year, Charlottesville has seen two bars open (I’m not counting Zydeco on the corner):
- X lounge: I am sure people will disagree but this place was a serious disappointment coming off the buzz of last summer’s Absolut Party.
- Ten: This place has done very well and the food and bar service are top-notch but has never really reached the same pinnacle of single scene domination that once was Zo ca lo (anyone remember that?).
Anyway, that is my contribution to the gossip (i.e. first post) and I’d love to hear what you think.
Thor’s Update: From Raquel’s comment, “The new restaurant is called “Maya” named after the owner’s daughter.” Thanks Raquel.
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Tagged as: Bars, Charlottesville, Restaurants/Bars, Rumors, Singles Scene
Iron, good article! I didn’t know they took the Boar’s Head main chef… That’s impressive, although I never thought of Boar’s Head cuisine as trend setting by any means… They do have a great brunch though. Can’t wait to get served by Ted again!
The new restaurnant is called “Maya,” named after the owner’s daughter.
The Hook: DISH May 3
The details on the owners were written up in the Hook on Thursday. Nice work, Iron. I ask the same questions about mutually exclusive bar scenes in my Zinc piece. I’m almost annoyed that the half mile walk would stop someone from going from downtown to midtown. I can think of distinct social “districts” in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, DC, and Austin that are separated by greater distances that people walk without whining, to name a few. But a smart entrepreneur (and good pedaler) just might bridge the gap. Did I see Jamie of Industry and Sean of Cassis test-driving a pedicab this past fall? I saw another pedicab on Water Street, and an unknown pedicab driver turn on Monticello later in the season…
I couldn’t agree more.
I just checked Google Maps and there are 3/10 of a mile between Maya and Escafe. It is also 3/10 of a mile from Escafe to The Nook. Maya doesn’t seem so far away if you look at it that way.
It’s nice to see a little more activity at that restaurant. I’d guess that Southern Culture closed about a year ago. I remember the new owner telling my boyfriend that he hoped for a Christmas opening, then Valentine’s Day, then Easter…it looks like it’s actually going to happen soon!
Update: If they get their liquor license on Friday, Maya will be open next week!
Maya, we knew we loved you before we met you. Thanks, TheUpstart, for the shout-out– and good update too.
My pleasure. I’ll be attending one of the “soft openings” this week and will be happy to report on the food and beverage situation. Considering those involved, I can’t imagine it being anything but great!
Just a quick update: Maya is open and Ted Norris is ready to serve some yummy drinks!
Another restaurant, Horse & Hound, is opening next door, where Blue Bird used to be. Isn’t that the magazine Hugh Grant said he was from in Knotting Hill?
Sweetness! We will try to do a review soon. If anyone else wants to submit a review, we will publish it!
Where are these reviews…?!?!?!?!?!
[…] restaurant in Charlottesville that serves a menu of Southern American food. It occupies the space formally held by Southern Culture and is staffed with Rockstar Ted and the Chef from Boar’s […]
[…] The Horse & Hound “gastropub” opened in earnest on Thursday and had a patio full of diners last night. Having gushed about Maya for weeks on this site, I felt it was my duty to visit its neighbor and spread the accolades. General information about this new “mid-town” spot and its owners can be found in Cville Weekly and The Hook. You may also be interested in Iron’s discussion of the new restaurant activity in the area now called Midtown. […]
[…] Ok, looks like there is a little brouhaha going on about the name change we have arbitrarily applied to the area from the 10th Street to the Lewis and Clark statue on West Main Street. It all began with Iron’s analysis entitled “The Coming (Tectonic) Shift to Midtown.” […]