If you like Second Street An American Bistro in Williamsburg, you’re in luck — a new location is set to open in Newport News on Victory Boulevard, near the border of York County.
“We’ll be taking the same exact format down there,” said co-owner Mickey Chohany. “The floorplan and layout are a little bit different, and the color scheme might be different, but the same kind of inviting feel will be re-created down there.”
No official opening date has been set.
Chohany said the mantra of “upscale casual dining” is the guiding force behind the menu and atmosphere at both locations.
“It works in Williamsburg and is successful, so we’re going to keep the menu the same and emulate the good things we’ve done,” Chohany said.
Second Street An American Bistro in Williamsburg was remodeled in 2007, offering guests a newly renovated building and a focus on upscale, comfortable dining. Chohany wants to imbue the new location with the same sensibilities.
“The experience for us starts curbside,” Chohany said. “From parking lot to your conclusion walking out the door, it’s a consistent feel for attention to detail. That’s our strong suit. We want you to have a good sense that we care and deliver.”
Chohany said the new restaurant will bring 35 full-time jobs and around 20 part-time jobs to the area.
Chohany hopes to rent an extra 1,400 square feet at the Newport News store to a smaller business like a bakery that could operate in conjunction with the restaurant.
The lush landscaping and outdoor seating that helps to characterize the Williamsburg store will also be at the Newport News location.
The Newport News location will be opened in a building owned by Chohany that used to be the Second Street Restaurant and Tavern. That was part of an older concept they elected to abandon.
“There were a lot of people who loved it, but the only way to try to transition was to get rid of it,” Chohany said. “The intention was to have that as a location we’d rent to lease or sell, but we timed it poorly for the downturn in the economy. It sat idle for years, so we looked to ourselves and said ‘we love the location, so much so that we’re happy to own it, but we need to make it more active.’ So we we rolled up our sleeves and got back to work.”
Chohany and his brother bought the Williamsburg location in 1985. It originally opened in 1983 when four golfing buddies came together and decided to create a sports bar.
