Proposal for Gourmet Cafe and Wine Bar Heads to Planning Commission
Half Full seeks to open at 108 N. Columbus St.
MCW Ventures, which is owned by Prince Street resident Michael Morehouse, is asking the city’s permission to open and operate Half Full, a gourmet café and wine bar in Old Town.
The endeavor would be located at 108 N. Columbus St. in about 2,000 square feet with 93 seats, including outside seating. The location is between Cameron and King streets, about a block and a half from The Lyceum.
Half Full plans to serve “fresh, organic and humane” ingredients in personal pan pizzas, salads, charcuteries and sweets, along with alcoholic beverages, according to an application filed with the city. It would offer table and bar service as well as carryout. Half Full does not plan to host any live entertainment.
“We are very excited to bring this type of dining venue to this area of Old Town, as it will attract visitors, tourists, employees from nearby streets, the courthouse lunch patrons, as well as the local residents,” says the application.
The applicant expects that the restaurant will serve approximately 200 to 300 patrons, although he not specify during which time period. Morehouse also intends to employ about 20 staffers on a full- or part-time basis.
The restaurant, which would close before midnight, does not offer any parking spaces for patrons. Delivery trucks would use a private driveway for loading related to the restaurant.
The application is expected to come before the Planning Commission on May 1.
Cheryl
11:49 am on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Fantastic. We need a place with real food and good wine. I'm so sick of the restuarants here that dont' have good wine by the glass, never change their stuff and don't know anything about it. Can't wait!
Ali Ringenburg
1:06 pm on Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Excellent news! Fresh, clean ingredients paired with fabulous wines by the glass sounds perfect to me. I know Michael and everything he is a part of is absolutely top-notch! I'm excited to see this project come together and hope the community will be just as thrilled.
Mike Morehouse
7:41 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
We are very excited to being bringing this concept into the Old Town market. The location we are pursuing is both rich in history and character. We feel it's a natural fit for Half Full. Please follow our progress on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/halffull-alexandria). We'll be updating it with our progress. And, if you have any questions or would like more information please feel free to contact me at info@halffull-alexandria.com. - Mike Morehouse
Angie
9:12 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Sounds perfect!!!! Sounds like a very family friendly place to enjoy organic food and for the parents to enjoy a glass of good wine:) We can't wait to come. Love the name too!
Khofemon Asante
11:54 am on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Wow this is fantastic, I can't wait to see this place open. Old town desire a place like this where you'll be able to enjoy a good delicious fresh organic foods and some good wine. The best part is on raining days you'll still be able to enjoy good food with their carry out service.
Timothy P. Credle
8:54 pm on Wednesday, March 14, 2012
We have a restaurant of the very same name here in Lewes, DE
Mike Morehouse
1:28 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tim,
The one and the same. We're bringing the concept into Old Town. You can expect the great pizzas, wines and beers that Half Full Lewes offers and then some!! Hope you'll track our progress on Facebook and join us for the opening.
-Mike Morehouse
Mark P
12:40 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
sounds awesome - can't wait to try it! good pizza, good wine - can't go wrong!
Edgar Warfield
3:34 pm on Thursday, March 15, 2012
Looking forward to it -- sounds like a great addition to the mid-King Street area!
Jay Lytle
12:07 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
My wife and I will visit this promising new start by driving up from Richmond. Everything about it sounds great!
Megan
12:20 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
What a fantastic idea. It will be nice to have a venue that is different from all the usual "chain" restaurants in Old Town and offers "fresh, organic, AND humane" ingredients in their menu - you can't find that just anywhere! I am very excited about this and plan on spreading the word!
matt tallmerq
3:34 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
Great plan. Just one request: Can we please have glutten-free pizza?
hilda amyx
7:06 pm on Friday, March 16, 2012
Congratulations! I just know it will work. With you two behind it, it will be fabulous. Such exciting news, and we can't wait to sample all of the menu!
Hilda
Barbara Brown
10:51 pm on Sunday, March 18, 2012
Sounds like a great place to take our grandson, Gavin and his parents when we visit Alexandria. congratulations Mike and Cheryl on this new adventure! Don & Barbara Brown