Brooks Reitz is a successful restauranteur in Charleston, S.C., but will that success translate from The Holy City to The Big Easy? It looks like we’re about to find out as Reitz and a team of business partners are currently conceptualizing a neighborhood restaurant for Faubourg St. John.
In Charleston, Reitz has had success with Classic American, Southern, and Italian concepts. Located in the former Nonna Mia pizza spot, the restaurant being planned for 3125 Esplanade Ave. will feature a bit of English flair but do so in keeping with the surrounding neighborhood. Ownership partner Andrew Bell recently told What Now New Orleans that the restaurant — tentatively named The Bell — will have influences from his native England. However, the intent isn’t to put an English-themed pub in Faubourg St. John. Bell said the casual restaurant will likely feature light and seasonal modern fare. He added that the owners are currently interviewing chefs, and a culinary focus will be more defined once the kitchen team has been selected.
Bell said that the owners currently have two main priorities. First, they want to create a restaurant for the neighborhood. Second, they want to get it right.
“My partners have been doing this for a long time in Charleston,” he explained. “This will be the first one that they’ll have opened in another city. So, it’s really important to them that they not only get the concept, atmosphere and fine details right — but also do it the right way for the neighborhood.
“I live pretty close by and frequent the restaurants right there in the area,” he added. “We’re really big fans of the neighborhood. We want to do something that people who live around there can be proud of and will support.”
