Earlier in the week we profiled the new Founding Farmers eatery designed by CORE architecture + design and here now we have another of their restaurant builds to tell you about. This one is William Jeffreys Tavern in the Sienna Park neighborhood of Arlington that officially opens tonight. The design concept is a 1920s Prohibition theme with a 'warm and cozy' touch thanks to working fireplaces and wood accents all throughout. Those fireplaces are right up against a seating bank, but you can comfortably eat dinner right there because the designers came up with a contained double glazing system that prevents extreme temperatures from escaping.
The whole restaurant seats about 200 people but several design decisions separate the spaces into three tiers so it doesn't feel like a huge cafeteria. The bar acts as a bridge from the entrance level to the middle tier and the fireplace centerpiece gives semi-seclusion for private parties. One cool thing we caught sight of were the rustic light fixtures over the group tables near the bar—simple Edison bulbs strung over wood beams make for an understated way to bring the right amount of light to a table. They also put up distinct ceiling treatments in different parts of the restaurant to designate one area from another.
Here are some before pictures which not only show how big a transformation it was, but if you look through the windows you can see construction activity outside that is all part of the growing revitalization of this neighborhood. A casual restaurant with an upscale menu seems like the right next step for this growing, changing nabe.
· William Jeffreys Tavern [Official Site]
· A Palace And A Seedy Bar All In The Same Showroom [CDC]
· CORE [Official Site]
· New Founding Farmers Keeps It Local On And Off The Table [CDC]
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