"The American" coming to Blagden Alley courtesy of Xavier Cervera (Reboot)
A few weeks back I wrote about another new restaurant coming to Blagden Alley, "The American". Unfortunately I wrote the article in a fit of peak over the placement of the ABRA notice pasted over a piece of local art. So in fairness, and with more information available, I am re-writing the article (as a form of re-boot) to examine the plan, and look at some of the issues that may surround it.
The American will take the space currently housing the "Downtown Boxing Club" and incorporate the small parking lot behind the property. (The American, Xavier Cervera' planned gastropub in Blagden Alley is not far from R.J. Cooper’s Rogue 24 and, the under construction, La Colombe Coffee Roaster.)
According to Tim Carman in the Washington Post's Going Out Guide, "Cervera plans to pattern it after the Boxcar Tavern he originally opened with a menu by former Brasserie Beck executive sous Brian Klein, not the one that’s currently limping along under Barracks Row Entertainment, the partnership that bought all of Cervera's restaurants on New Year’s Eve." The menu "might look like a pub menu, heavy on the high-grade burgers and other cheffy sandwiches, on which everything sells for less than $20. Craft beer would dominate the bar program and, best of all, you could consume it all on a summer garden patio out back."
The Blagden Alley/Naylor Court Association's (BANCA) Greg Melcher states that plans to have the garden patio open until 11pm during the week and 1am on the weekend along with main restaurants closing times of 2am and 3am "are longer hours than what we normally agree to .....We will have to think long and hard about those hours. Some people that live right next to (the planned site) are concerned about the hours and especially the noise given how sound reverberates around in an alley ....but all agree a low price restaurant is highly desired".
Tim Carman continues "But all of that is still months away, Cervera warns. The American, right now, is still a boxing gym covered with ivy. The summer garden patio is still a parking lot... Cervera has signed a lease for the space, but until construction begins, the gym appears to still be open for business." As for BANCA, they believe that the restaurant will take even longer to materialize,("Cervera hopes his secret little hideaway of a neighborhood pub will open in seven months or so". - Tim Carman) But BANCA states that "The general agreement by all is that the building is not contributory to the historic fabric (of the alley) so we are okay if he knocks it down. It would be replaced with a one story structure of roughly the size of the existing building...." and yes Cervera will keep and incorporate the art work that the ABRA notice was taped the on. As for Cervera, in a few months, he’s planning to move into the nearby Naylor Court Stables.“The business will be in an alley, and my home will be in an alley,” Cervera says.
Welcome Xavier Cervera to Blagden Alley, we look forward to following the development of "The American"
Sources:
Tim Carman Washing Post Going Out Guide
Greg Melcher Blagden Alley/Naylor Court Association
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| Currently the "Downtown Boxing Club" Cervera plans to open "The American" an inexpensive gastropub |
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| The exterior summer garden patio is currently a parking lot used by 'Rent-A-Wreck" |
The Blagden Alley/Naylor Court Association's (BANCA) Greg Melcher states that plans to have the garden patio open until 11pm during the week and 1am on the weekend along with main restaurants closing times of 2am and 3am "are longer hours than what we normally agree to .....We will have to think long and hard about those hours. Some people that live right next to (the planned site) are concerned about the hours and especially the noise given how sound reverberates around in an alley ....but all agree a low price restaurant is highly desired".
Tim Carman continues "But all of that is still months away, Cervera warns. The American, right now, is still a boxing gym covered with ivy. The summer garden patio is still a parking lot... Cervera has signed a lease for the space, but until construction begins, the gym appears to still be open for business." As for BANCA, they believe that the restaurant will take even longer to materialize,("Cervera hopes his secret little hideaway of a neighborhood pub will open in seven months or so". - Tim Carman) But BANCA states that "The general agreement by all is that the building is not contributory to the historic fabric (of the alley) so we are okay if he knocks it down. It would be replaced with a one story structure of roughly the size of the existing building...." and yes Cervera will keep and incorporate the art work that the ABRA notice was taped the on. As for Cervera, in a few months, he’s planning to move into the nearby Naylor Court Stables.“The business will be in an alley, and my home will be in an alley,” Cervera says.
Welcome Xavier Cervera to Blagden Alley, we look forward to following the development of "The American"
Sources:
Tim Carman Washing Post Going Out Guide
Greg Melcher Blagden Alley/Naylor Court Association
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