Apparently, there’s some major university or something over near the Corner. Proprietors of that neighborhood’s dining scene are currently gnashing their teeth over the ebb of the great student tide, which declines mightily after graduation comes and sweeps the little darlings off to partake of summer adventures. This means they’re no longer partaking of food and drink (well, these are UVA students, so we should make that drink and food) here in their adopted hometown, and businesses must adjust accordingly.
“The drop is significant,” says Jabberwocky owner Jim Galloway. “We’re probably down 45 to 50 percent” between May and June, with a slight recovery in July when UVA’s summer activities pick up. Beer and liquor sales take the biggest hit, Galloway says, since students are normally “the only ones here during the evenings.” To even things out, he tries to play up the food side of his business, offering summer specials and discounts on catering; still, his kitchen staff (mostly non-students) has to make do with reduced hours.
Other restaurateurs claim they’re not hit so hard. Ron Morse, owner of Baja Bean, says that, while his lunch trade slumps somewhat in the summer, tourists keep dinners selling briskly. “When [students are] gone, it’s easier to deal with, if that makes sense,” Morse says. Yes, it makes perfect sense if you’re a local who can finally park a car within crawling distance of a Corner eatery. And if for some reason you require a sandwich during the wee hours, you’ll probably get lightning-quick service at Littlejohn’s; operator Chris Strong says his late night shift is the one most affected by the departure of student wallets. Apparently, students of major universities would rather eat pastrami at 3am than get a good night’s sleep.
Smoked out
Every once in a while you’ll hear about a couple of businesses duking it out over a name they both want to use. (It’s all so postmodern—who owns the language? And more importantly, who has more money for lawyers?) One such scrap is playing out right now over the rights to the name “Dickie’s.” Back in late March, Restaurantarama brought you the news that owner Christian Trendel was planning to reinvent the Rivanna Grill on 29N as Dickie’s Smokehouse and Barbecue. A projected May opening date didn’t materialize; Trendel spent a month in New Orleans working for the Jazz and Heritage Festival, and the tussle over the name is holding things up too. (A texas franchise called Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has moved to stop Trendel from using the name. He’s on the hunt for a new one.)
Trendel’s new plan calls for opening in late June, and he’s been doing his homework: On the way to New Orleans and back, he says, “I stopped at every BBQ shack, joint or roadhouse and ate more slow-cooked meats than I care to admit to.” For all you pork noshers, this should translate into some well-researched ’cue, under whatever name it’s served.
La Taza Nueva
More evidence of Belmont’s upward trend: La Taza, the Latin-flavored coffee shop that Melissa Easter opened last July on
Hinton Avenue, now has an honest-to-goodness kitchen. Easter recently put in a grill, stove and ovens, so now she can serve real sit-down dinners, including Cuban steak, mahi mahi with pico de gallo, and chicken enchiladas, plus French fries made from the yucca plant.
Easter’s also applying for the proper ABC license to serve mixed drinks, such as mojitos and Cuba Libres, in addition to the beer and wine she already serves. And her patio’s bigger now, as well. More margaritas for all!