By now, you’ve probably heard that a CVS/pharmacy is looking to stake a claim on the Corner. Last week our own John Ruscher reported on c-ville.com that the owner of the Anderson Brothers Building, which houses Satellite Ballroom, Plan 9, Higher Grounds and Just Curry, confirmed that the chain store giant has been scoping out the property. No deals are done yet, but sources tell us that the lease that supports the aforementioned businesses is up at the end of May, and Just Curry owner Alex George confirmed to Restaurantarama that he is relocating his business. George couldn’t tell us exactly where the Caribbean-influenced curry shop will land, but he suggested that it could be in more than one location. Now, we are more than a little bummed that the Corner may be going all corporate just so the college kids can get their condoms and toothpaste more conveniently, but if that’s the driving force behind Just Curry becoming its own culinary empire, well, we’d be more than a little proud.
 This space on the Corner containing Satellite Ballroom, Plan 9 and Just Curry may one day be a place for students to get No Doz. |
Meanwhile, with Satellite Ballroom possibly biting the dust at its current location, thoughts return to another small music venue that we recently lost. Starr Hill Music Hall and Restaurant has been sitting vacant since that business closed last June, but Restaurantarama recently noticed some workman milling about the area. A call to Michael Keaveny of Red Light Management, which owned Starr Hill and still held the lease on the space, confirmed that the lease has been assigned to a new party. Jessie T. Hook, who owns the building at 707-709 W. Main Street, told us that the new lease holder, a restaurateur from Richmond, is doing “an enormous amount of work” to the space in preparation for a new restaurant concept.
It’s almost spring and the scene is heating up! Stay tuned for more on these stories.
The wait is…
…almost over. Savour (in the old Hong Kong space on Emmet Street) is not just “Coming soon,” it’s “Coming very soon.” No joke. Owner Ed Nafei recently wrote in the word “very” on the sign out front to indicate that progress is being made on this place that’s been pending for over a year. He probably also did it to keep folks like Restaurantarama from pestering him daily so he actually can make some of that progress. But we stopped by and pestered anyway, and Nafei graciously gave us an update and a tour. Unfortunately, we’re still not any closer to understanding what the menu will bring, as Nafei continues to refer to his planned offerings as the “uncuisine cuisine,” but what we can tell you is that the food likely will be as fresh and eclectic as the décor. Italian-made light fixtures, Spanish ceramic tile, German-made place settings—Nafei spared no expense or international inspiration. Savour has two fireplaces and a completely renovated kitchen that could serve 2,000, says Nafei, who guesses it might be one of the biggest kitchens in Charlottesville. In other words, a lot of work is going into the packaging of this place. As for the menu, well, this experienced chef and restaurateur says, “That’s the easy part. I could make that up the night before opening if I had to.” Look for that opening “very soon.”
Where everybody knows your name
Get ready to stake out your favorite stool—that mystery restaurant next to Crush in Belmont is scheduled to open for dinner, seven days a week, starting this Thursday. It’s called The Local, as in the food will be filled with high-quality local ingredients and the vibe and prices will be neighborhood friendly. Chef Matthew Hart tells us, “We want the people who live and work here to be able to afford a high-quality meal.” We love that—and we love the two levels of bars and planned rooftop deck at this period building that’s been completely renovated by owner Adam Frazier.
Relocation, relocation, relocation
And finally: Aroma’s Café is now open at its new Barracks Road Shopping Center location, and Ristorante Al Dente, which closed its Downtown Mall location above Escafé in February, has found a new home at the Ix Building. Look for an April opening.
Got some restaurant scoop? Send tips to restaurantarama@c-ville.com or call 817-2749, Ext. 48.
