Partnering once again with investor / developer Chip Fudge as they did at R&J, the pair is set to bring the long-vacant Edmond Ice House back to life.
Located at 101 W 2nd Street just west of the rail road tracks, construction will soon start on the 75 seat restaurant. The bar area is located in the existing double height portion of the structure and seating continues out on to a raised, covered patio planted all round with herbs for cocktails, and the existing concrete loading dock is re-purposed as a drinks porch.
Architecturally, a new kitchen / entrance wing and a patio will be added in a complimentary but contrasting form to the historic structure and will be clad in charred wood shou sugi ban siding, an historic Japanese technique for preserving timber. Traces of the history of the building are evident in the structure that remains in its patchwork of brick and concrete block facades.
The centerpiece of the kitchen – and the menu – will be a wood-fired baking oven which will product rustic comfort food. Items from the farmer's market next door will have a strong influence on the offerings.
As with Ludivine and R&J, there will be a large and inventive craft cocktail offering.
Stranger and Johnson are still working on a name and construction starts soon with opening later this year. Design is by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris of London.
