Townhall is nearing its opening date in Short North - Photo by Susan Post

An opening date is nearing for the debut of TownHall in the Short North. Cleveland restaurateur Bobby George says Monday, March 9 is the big day – but only if everything is right.

George has no qualms about holding out on the opening date to ensure the best experience possible for when the 7,000 square foot restaurant serves its first customers at 792 N. High St. The Columbus restaurant will become the flagship location for the brand across the country.

TownHall will be split into two sides – a cafe on one and restaurant and bar on the other, each with its own entrance.

George says the cafe side will be the kind of place people can sit all day and be comfortable — an office away from the office to have a cup of coffee or a meeting. An abundance of plants and greenery will fill the space that will feature a variety of seating – from booths to a stadium-style setup.

There’s three ways to order on the cafe side – at a kiosk, through the REBoL/TownHall app or by speaking with an actual barista.

On the restaurant and bar side, it’s a full-service sit-down affair. Servers will utilize hand-held technology to place orders tableside – improving accuracy and the potential that a diner’s drink could arrive before they are even done ordering, according to George.

TownHall will seat about 50 on the cafe side and 130 on the restaurant side. And that’s not including the High Street-facing patio which can accommodate an extra 60-70 guests. Across the frontage of the restaurant, six retractable doors will open in the warmer months, creating an indoor-outdoor dining experience.

Everything in the restaurant is custom-made, from the seating to the light fixtures and the doors. For George, creating a restaurant dining experience is not just about how the space looks, but how people feel when they are in it. They’ve carefully curated the experience down to the last detail – from the essential oils they use, to the design of the bar and how the beer kegs are tapped.

“I didn’t want to create another restaurant, a healthy restaurant that was boring, because I believe equally as important to what you put in your body is just social interaction, so we wanted to create a restaurant experience that you come and eat healthy but still have fun,” George says.

Rendering of 800 N. High St.

Those familiar with the TownHall in Cleveland will find the same exact menu of 100% non-GMO and mostly organic eats. The extensive lineup accommodates nearly any diner’s preferences – from plant-based fare to Keto and Paleo eats.

There are broths + soups, shareables like Fresh Cut Truffle fries and Keto Chicken Wings, cold bowls that include poke and salads, and hot bowls like the Grass-Fed Bolognese or Curry Chicken Noodle. Burgers, tacos, flatbreads and dinner plates that include an NY Strip Steak and Wild Salmon round out the offerings. And, yes, there will be brunch, including TownHall’s build-your-own crepe station.

Diners will wash it all down with cocktails featuring fresh-pressed juices, biodynamic and organic wines, and a draft list of all-American beers. As for the coffee, “The unique thing about our product, is all of our coffee is not only organic, it’s biodynamic,” George says. “We test it independently for molds and toxins.”

While a taste of Townhall is near, Columbusites will have to wait a little bit longer for the second George concept to occupy the building.

Opening on the 10th floor rooftop is The Mandrake, a bar and restaurant that’s a brand new concept for George and his company Ethos Capital Partners.

Set to sweeping skyline views, bar-goers will enjoy a “high-energy lounge” with an inspired modern menu. The fare will see influences from Asia, the Mediterranean and beyond.

It will be another indoor-outdoor experience with three walls of doors that open onto a rooftop deck.

The Mandrake will make its debut two months after TownHall opens.

The two bar and restaurant concepts will be the final tenants to open in the 10-story building at 800 N. High St. The Moxy Hotel occupies the second and sixth through ninth floors. Embattled coworking giant WeWork is the sole office tenant taking up floors three through five.

George and Ethos Capital Partners also own REBoL at Bridge Park in Dublin.

For more information, visit townhallohiocity.com.

Rendering of The Mandrake provided by Ethos Capital Partners

Rendering of The Mandrake provided by Ethos Capital Partners