The owners of Donna's Coffee Bar hope to reopen their Mount Vernon shop by the end of the year following a five-alarm fire that devastated the historic building at 800 N. Charles St.
And when it does reopen, diners can expect tapas and a wine bar on the menu, co-owner Alan Hirsch says.
He expects reconstruction work on the restaurant to begin in October and be completed in three months. With the inside totally gutted, the owners have to redesign the restaurant and go through the permitting process all over again.
"If you go to that corner, it's pretty depressing," since the Dec. 7 fire, Hirsch says. "Part of the community is gone."
Meanwhile, the business owner says he expects renovations on the building to begin as early as June, based on meetings he has had with the building's developer, Dominic Wiker. The former home of Indigma and MyThai restaurants now has no roof and requires extensive electrical and mechanical work, Hirsch says.
Wiker could not be reached for comment.
Hirsch says he does not yet have an estimate on the cost of the renovations.
Serving wine and high-end beer, along with small plates, will help
Donna's keep up with current market trends for European-style restaurants, Hirsch says. The restaurant is known for its extensive coffee menu and Mediterranean fare, including a roasted vegetable salad and hummus and pita.
The motive behind the wine bar was not solely money, as the profit margins are higher in coffee drinks, Hirsch says. Rather, the owners felt they needed to refresh the restaurant concept.
"We needed to update Donna's and do more."
It has other locations at the University of Maryland Medical System, the Village of Cross Keys, Charles Village and Columbia.
Writer: Julekha Dash
Source: Alan Hirsch, Donna's