After missing its goal of a June opening, returning Clarendon mainstay Mister Days still expects to open this summer.
August is the new target for the watering hole’s grand opening at 1101 N. Highland Street, in the former Clarendon Grill and Pinemoor space.
After The Pinemoor closed last summer, Mister Days decided to take over the space but was stuck with a bunch of the restaurant’s old stuff — items that had to be cleared out before any work could be done, owner Bobby Lee tells ARLnow. A liquor license application for the business is also still pending, according to Virginia ABC.
Work on the outdoor patio, as well as the installation of additional televisions and more inside, is still on the to-do list, Lee said.
Located just down the road from the long-time former Mister Days location, the new space will continue to provide many of the familiar things that made Mister Days a go-to hangout for more than four decades — with a twist or two.
One of the main changes will be an emphasis on food, according to Lee, who hopes to make the new establishment a bigger hit with the dinner crowd. Mister Days is working with a local chef to develop signature dinner offerings, supplementing different menus for game days and other events.
While the cuisine is intended to bring more people in, Lee said, an upgraded ambiance will keep people around.
Televisions will line the walls of the space, with an extra large screen set to be installed on one of the walls. A DJ booth has also been added. The restaurant’s space will feature five different sound zones, allowing for greater auditory harmony between dining areas and bar areas.
Mister Days’ famed “Rally in the Alley” will also return in the new space, Lee said. The restaurant has plans to close a portion of 11th Street for the celebration whenever it is held.
