Joe reported a few weeks ago (and I wanted to repeat here, after getting some emails on the subject) the news that Revolution, the new downtown restaurant from area chef Jim Anile, seems to be underway and making some progress. Anile and crew have relaunched their main web site as well as a blog site, the latter of which has most recently announced that Revolution is now taking applications for employment.
The construction plans were reportedly submitted to the City in late March, and Anile notes online that the restaurant is still aiming for a sometime-spring opening. When you head by the old Baldwin department store (now home to some terrific Greenfire-owned loft apartments), you can see signs for the restaurant in the window and the calling card of an urban renovation construction firm that's doing work for Greenfire at a couple of sites around downtown.
It's important for downtown that Revolution do well. Rue Cler is anchoring the Chapel Hill St. corridor, with the Carolina Theatre, Marriott, Piedmont and the Central Park/Farmer's Market to the south. Toast is anchoring Five Points at this time, with other street-level retail (including the fabulous and underappreciated Book Exchange) showing activity.]
West Main, on the other hand, has been fairly devoid of activity on the streetfront, particularly in the evenings. Reinvigorating that corridor is critical to drawing a mass of foot traffic day and night between the DPAC/DPAB/American Tobacco district south of the tracks and the city center.
Importantly to that end, Revolution is projecting hours extending until midnight or 1am throughout the week, with brunch-only hours on Sunday. Free valet parking will be available Mondays through Saturdays.
What I really want downtown is a lounge where I can hang out before/after events at Carolina Theatre.
Anything like that in the works?
Posted by: Rebecca | April 17, 2008 at 12:45 PM