Thursday, July 26, 2007

Planning board OKs 3 bistros

The proposed outdoor cafe at the Whistle Stop

Cosi, Papa Joe's and a new restaurant called Cafe Via were approved for bistro liquor licenses, and the Whistle Stop was approved for a new outdoor cafe Wednesday night by the Birmingham Planning Board.

Cosi, which scaled back its proposal for a outdoor cafe platform from six to three parking spaces, was approved only after it abandoned the platform altogether. With only five members participating, supporters of the 2016 Plan-inspired street platforms couldn't muster the necessary four votes for approval. Members George Dilgard and Sam Haberman opposed the platform, saying they thought it was unsafe. Gillian Lazar recused herself, and Mark Nickita was absent. Chairman Robin Boyle and members Brian Blaesing and Bryan Williams supported the platform. Cosi said it would reconfigure the outdoor cafe on the sidewalk, and the board agreed to give city staff the authority to administratively approve the outdoor dining component of the license application.

Papa Joe's was approved only after it agreed to expand its outdoor dining component. The upscale grocer, which serves an extensive selection of prepared foods on-premises, was the fourth existing establishment to apply for a bistro license, and the only one in the Triangle District.

Cafe Via, the ambitious brainchild of Birmingham developer Edward Fuller and architect Christopher Longe (a Buzz editor), was the first new establishment approved for a Bistro license. The cafe is an integral part of the new development Fuller is building in the former parking lot between the Birmingham Theatre and the former Midtown Cafe. It will occupy the former Marty's Cookies, and the cafe will emanate from the rear of the space, with a large outdoor cafe. The front of the space will be devoted to retail space.

Also approved Monday night was a proposed streetscape and outdoor cafe for the Whistle Stop restaurant on S. Eton St. in the Rail District. The cafe was designed by Rail District architect and booster Frank Carnovale.