WACO-OTRA Restaurant Program, August 21, 2008 Sponsored by the Westmoreland Area Community Organization (WACO) and the Old Town Residents' Association (OTRA) at the Echo Park studio, 7014 Westmoreland Ave, Takoma Park. Attendance (8 pm) was 56. Notes recorded by OTRA President Seth Grimes. The meeting convened shortly after 7:30 pm. 1) Recognition of Takoma Park Mayor Bruce Williams, Ward 1 City Council Member Josh Wright, and Washington DC ANC 4B01 Commissioner Sara Green. Ward 3 City Council Member Dan Robinson arrived later after another meeting. 2) Thank you to Kelly Mayfield of Contradiction Dance (http://www.contradictiondance.com/) for allowing us to meet in her Echo Park studio space. Kelly will be holding an Echo Park open house on Sunday, September 7 from 11 am to 3 pm. 3) Lieutenant Rick Bowers of the Takoma Park Police Department spoke briefly about police patrols and details focused on the Old Takoma commercial and residential areas. 4) Mention of many volunteer opportunities with the Old Takoma Main Street program (http://www.mainstreettakoma.org/) and other activities of the Old Takoma Business Assocation (OTBA. OTBA Executive Director Roz Grigsby is the person to contact . 5) Briefing on the status of property owner John Urciolo's plans for redevelopment of space between the Post Office and Pizza Movers on the Laurel Avenue strip. 6) Restaurateurs Gillian Clark and Robin Smith then spoke and responded to questions about Avenue Oven, the restaurant they plan for the former Taliano's space at 7001 Carroll Avenue. Gillian said that the restaurant will have 90 seats +/- 10. They are 3-4 months from opening. They "would like to say December." They plan to be open 7 days -- subject to adjustment -- with Sunday brunch and lunch other days. They will try to be open until 11 pm but that depends on what makes sense financially. They located in Takoma Park because it is a "neat spot." They are working with an architect now and are close to having final drawings. The space is being gutted; the Taliano's bar will be eliminated. The kitchen will be in the same place as Taliano's [toward the front] with a working kitchen where the Taliano's stage was [mid restaurant]. There will be tables along the front window with a view through to the kitchen. The interior finish will be chrome and wood, matching in some ways the current exterior. There's a recording studio being built underneath the restaurant that creates some additional needs. The food will be "American" but with a different approach from that of Colorado Kitchen, their former restaurant. They want to examine American food through different lenses, Eastern European in this case including, for instance, broasted chicken, pot pies, pickles, blintzes, pastries on Sundays, rugelach. They will cook with seasonal, local ingredients and would include vegetarian and vegan options although these would not be the focus. They will sell beer and wine. They expect to be able to package food to go [with the implication this would cover certain but not all items]. The restaurant will welcome families. Gillian described an approach based on her own experience with her own children: "Kids should eat what we [adults] eat." They will have "food that's accessible and approachable" including basic items like chicken. They are sensitive to cost and will have child-sized portions but there will not be a separate children's menu with items with low nutritional value that "just make kids fat." They will not isolate children or families with children but expect good behavior. "Nobody plays in my dining room." Regarding prices, they would "like to keep everything reasonable... under $30." There's a potential for music, they are not going to rule it out. There are county regulatory considerations so they will consider this for the future. They expect to have 15-20-25 employees, depending on hours and on the use of part-timers. Proper staff training is important. The Forest Glen restaurant [that Gillian & Robin are opening] is called the General Store withe the Post Office Tavern downstairs. It's more like Teaism with counter service rather than full service. They will divide their time between the restaurants and plan to open additional restaurants. They closed Colorado Kitchen because the lease was up -- they hung on as long as they could -- and the owner wanted to build condos. 7) Restaurateurs Murat Uzuntepe and Cenk Duzturk spoke about their plans for the former House of Musical Traditions space at 7040 Carroll Avenue. Their restaurant, Roscoe's [after Takoma Park's famous rooster] will be a pizzeria with a wood-fired, brick oven. The pizza will be thin crust, Neapolitan style. They will also offer panini, no-cheese white pizza, and many vegetarian (as well as meat) appetizers, many Turkish influenced. They will emphasize fresh, healthful ingredients. The restaurant will have a full bar although they are still working on obtaining a liquor license and a waiver of county parking requirements, both of which are supported by OTBA and the Takoma Park City Council and community. The parking waiver is expected to come through in September. They hope to open in the beginning of December. Roscoe's will have 96 seats plus outside seating in a patio area in front of the building. There will be a separate side room for more private seating/functions and a kid space. The interior will be upscale; warm but not fancy; no tablecloth. Pizza making will be visible to patrons. Hours would be 11 am - 10 pm, closing at 9 pm on Sundays. They're flexible about hours and could stay open later on Fridays and Saturdays. There will be take-out but not delivery. 8) The meeting concluded at about 8:40 pm.