Politics & Government
2 New Birmingham Bistros Get Go-Ahead for 2012
Market and the newly renamed Social, both applicants for 2012's two bistro licenses, received the go-ahead Monday night at the Birmingham City Commission meeting.
The Birmingham City Commission approved the final site plans for the city's two 2012 bistro applicants, Market and newly renamed Social.
Market, a Mediterranean-style neighborhood bistro, has plans to move into 474 N. Old Woodward Ave., located at the corner of Old Woodward and Ravine, across from . The bistro would be owned by Kristin and Joe Bongiovianni, who manage the nearby .
Social would be owned and operated by Chef Zack Sklar, founder of Cutting Edge Cuisine. The restaurant would move into 225 E. Maple Rd., the old location, as well as an empty adjacent space. The menu would feature tapas-style dishes, all of which diners can enjoy in outdoor dining spaces in the adjoining alleyway and a rooftop deck.
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out of a field of five in October as part of a . The plans were then approved by the city's Planning Board in November and December.
Under Birmingham's 2007 bistro ordinance, only two bistro licenses are approved each year. Bistros are defined as having seasonal sidewalk seating, a full-service kitchen and no more than 65 seats inside and no more than 10 seats at a bar.
Find out what's happening in Birminghamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
After a lengthy discussion on the logistics of both plans, commissioners gave the final go-ahead Monday night despite a last-minute hiccup over Social's name. The bistro originally proposed to call itself Social Kitchen, and then changed the name to Social Kitchen and Bar during the Planning Board stage.
However, several commissioners took up issue with the addition of "bar," noting the intent of the bistro ordinance was to encourage establishments to focus on food, not alcohol. Commissioner Rackeline Hoff and Mayor Pro Tem George Dilgard said they wouldn't support the motion to approve Social should the name stay the same.
Sklar said he would be willing to change the name to simply "Social," prompting the five commissioners present — commissioners Stuart Sherman and Scott Moore were absent Monday — to approve both plans.
Stay tuned to Patch for more on Market and Social's approval, as well a full recap of Monday's City Commission meeting.
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