Some restaurants take years before they expand. In other cases, as with neighborhood noshery Lola, it’s just a matter of months.
Lola opened in January in the old Crepes in the City spot at the corner of 14th Street and St. Charles. When owners Chris Hansen and Cijo Matthews had the opportunity to take over the I Am Sneaky shoe space that sits directly behind Lola on Washington, they didn’t hesitate. The expansion will enable Lola to “connect to Washington Avenue, break up the food audience from the late night audience and secure rooftop rights for spring,” Hansen said. “We’ll be the only single-story rooftop deck space on Washington.
Hansen and Matthews aren’t wasting any time in priming the new space either. A mere 10 days or so from now, the additional 1,800 interior square feet will have been converted into an absinthe lounge, plus a separate dining area with seating for 35.
The late night lounge, according to Hansen, will be driven by a “bohemian philosophy”: take high-end and make it approachable and affordable. To achieve this, they will be offering house-infused absinthe, trendy boxed wines, canned beers, organic martinis, and a special selection of whiskeys. Items such as these, explained bar manager Matt McMullin, will also differentiate the “down-tempo lounge” with loaf-about couch seating from Lola’s existing high-end, hand-crafted cocktail bar.
Hansen hopes the renovation will be ready in time for a private function scheduled for July 17. As far as that rooftop goes, look to see a 1,200- to 1,500-sq. foot deck built in time for the 2011 patio season.
– Ligaya Figueras
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This article appears in Jul 1-31, 2010.