A West Coast-inspired eatery and bar, BAR IVY, is anticipated to open in Arlington, VA in Spring 2022, followed by a second concept in Bethesda, MD in 2023
Blagden Hospitality Group (BHG) is continuing its expansion outside of DC, with an exciting new restaurant and bar concept, BAR IVY, opening in Arlington, VA in spring 2022. Located just one block from the Clarendon metro station, BAR IVY combines the cool, relaxed vibe of the West Coast with a Mid Atlantic approach to ingredients, shining the spotlight on seafood and vegetables, vibrant cocktails and low-intervention wines. Guests can expect an elegant but laid-back atmosphere with subtle influences from the opposite coast, with attractive al fresco dining, an open, airy bungalow-style interior, and a casual Kiosk serving morning coffee and breakfast.
THE LOCATIONS
BAR IVY’s initial location will be in Arlington, VA’s Clarendon neighborhood at 3033 Wilson Boulevard, just one block from the Clarendon metro station. Housed on the ground floor of Carr Properties’ Class A office building, Clarendon Square. The building is situated on the corner of Wilson Boulevard and North Garfield Street, opening to an expansive plaza and bustling car and foot traffic.
“BAR IVY is a transformative addition to Clarendon Square – offering our building customers a unique dining destination, perfect for before, during and after the workday,” said Jackson Prentice, Carr Properties’ Senior Vice President of Portfolio Management. “We are proud to welcome the BHG team to our retail portfolio, especially as we continue to prioritize food and beverage integration as a key building amenity throughout our portfolio.”
BHG’s second, newest location is slated for downtown Bethesda, MD at another Carr Properties building. BHG has signed a lease for the ground floor retail location at Carr’s newly delivered, landmark development, The Wilson & The Elm, a three-tower mixed use development on the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and Elm Street. With prominent office customers at The Wilson, such as Fox 5, Walker & Dunlop, and ProShares, as well as a growing residential community at The Elm, BHG’s new restaurant concept is the perfect addition to the work-live-play mantra at The Wilson & The Elm.
THE SPACE
Light and bright with a coastal feel, BAR IVY’s Clarendon Square design is a breath of fresh air on Wilson Boulevard. Taking advantage of the building’s expansive outdoor plaza, 125 outdoor patio seats are anchored around a stand of mature crepe myrtles that provide shade and flowers through the summer.
Fifty feet of operable storefront connects the patio to the airy interior, centered on a 20-seat terrazzo bar and cantilevered shelving with mid-century inspired forms. Cozy banquettes and booths are tucked into wavy archways around the room, split by an open kitchen that puts the menu on display.
A kiosk stands at the corner of the site facing the nearby Metro entrance, with sidewalk-facing coffee service all day for walk-up patrons and a small outdoor bar facing the patio.
The space has been designed by Edit Lab at Streetsense, who also designed BHG’s other concepts Tiger Fork, Calico and Fainting Goat.
THE FOOD
Chef/Owner Nathan Beauchamp will lead the kitchen at BAR IVY with the support of Executive Chef Jonathan Till (formerly Executive Chef of Evening Star Cafe), where they’ll use Mid Atlantic ingredients to create fresh and original cuisine inspired by the West Coast. The menu will be heavily influenced by seafood and vegetable-forward dishes, and they will work with local farmers and fishermen to source and showcase the best products in innovative ways.
“When I was 18 and working in the restaurant industry, I traveled through Northern California for the first time, dined at The French Laundry, Chez Panisse, met Wolfgang Puck. It opened my eyes to the West Coast approach of cooking, using fresh ingredients sourced locally, prepared simply but manipulating them just enough to create something so incredible. It always inspired a dream in me to open a restaurant in that realm,” says Chef Beauchamp.
Rather than offer a raw bar, BAR IVY will showcase seafood specialties in composed dishes. Carnivores need not worry, they will serve meat but eschew beef for other unique proteins like duck and lamb.
BAR IVY will also become a welcome new destination for morning coffee and daytime dining in Arlington, operating a more casual Kiosk in the mornings, serving coffee and tea from Lancaster, PA-based Passenger Coffee, and pastries. They will eventually serve brunch and lunch shortly after opening.
A culinary industry veteran, Chef Beauchamp has more than 25 years of cooking experience, having worked in New York under notable chefs such as David Burke and Tom Colicchio. He has conceptualized and taken on chef/ownership roles of BHG’s other restaurants, including Tiger Fork, Calico, Fainting Goat, Hi-Lawn and Hei Hei Tiger, and is excited to add BAR IVY to the restaurant group’s acclaimed concepts. And Chef Till has built a reputation for being one of the region’s top foragers, and will work closely with local farmers to source unique hyper-seasonal vegetables and herbs.
THE DRINKS
BAR IVY’s beverage program will creatively complement the light, vibrant menu with seasonal herb and produce-forward drinks, as well as a large wine program.
Cocktails from BHG beverage director Ian Fletcher will skew towards classics with house riffs, plus a separate menu dedicated to low/no-ABV sips. Guests will also find fortified wines, vermouth and amari made in-house utilizing self-foraged ingredients.
BAR IVY’s wine program, led by General Manager Jake Worth, will feature eclectic selections from around the world with a focus on low-intervention wines and diverse young winemakers. They also plan to highlight oft-changing wine regions with featured sub-menus.
BAR IVY’s dining room and kiosk are expected to open in spring 2022. The patio will follow shortly thereafter.