Taking advantage of ideal weather, the One Zone Chamber of Commerce conducted a pair of ribbon-cutting ceremonies on March 30 for two new local restaurants.
“After everything we’ve been through (with COVID-19), it’s great to have days like today to celebrate,” said Mayor Scott Fadness in between the official grand opening at Hamilton County Tavern and Kitchen and the one for the 1933 Lounge by St. Elmo across the parking lot.
Both restaurants are off E. 116th street and are owned and operated by Huse Culinary, which also owns St. Elmo Steakhouse and Harry and Izzy’s. Some of the more recognizable items from St. Elmo, such as shrimp cocktails, can be found at the 1933 Lounge. The HC Tavern and Kitchen offers its own unique fare.
“(The HC Tavern and Kitchen) is like a Harry and Izzy’s as far as it’s a classic American grill. Same price points, but a completely different menu and decor,” said Craig Huse, the CEO of Huse Culinary.
The ribbon-cutting ceremonies were completed in about 10 minutes, but the wait to reopen the restaurants took much longer.
“We opened 1933 in December of 2019 and then we opened the HC in February of 2020, then on March 17 we were shut down for two months after that,” Huse said after the ceremonies. “There was a lot of anxiety back then, ‘Oh my gosh, we just put this huge investment into two big restaurants and have over 100 employees over here and we’re going to have to shut down.”
Huse was relieved to have both restaurants back in business.
“It’s energizing to be able to celebrate something like this,” he said.
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