Photo by J. Pollack Photography, courtesy of Half & Half
A second location of Half & Half, Mike Randolph's popular breakfast and lunch spot in Clayton, is slated to open in Webster Groves late this spring or early summer.
The second location will be at 220 W. Lockwood, where a First Watch currently resides. Randolph, who's also behind Delmar Loop restaurants Randolfi's Italian Kitchen and Público, says a second Half & Half has been a long time coming.
Photo credit Greg Rannells
"I think a number of years ago, I could have fought tooth and nail to open up another 60-seat restaurant like Público or Randolfi's," he says. "But when you take a step back and look at how fortunate we are that Half & Half has found the success that it has, logically as a business owner, it certainly made the most sense [to open a second location]."
At 3,700 square feet, the Webster Groves spot will be bigger than its Clayton counterpart, which debuted in 2011. Randolph says much of the menu will look familiar, and he mentions the possibility of a coffee window for those who don't necessarily want to wade through the crowd for a cup. (Half & Half partners with Blueprint Coffee for its coffee program.)
"Hopefully, we can fill a couple of voids in the Webster area—not just breakfast and lunch, but also as a full-service, comprehensive coffee shop," he says.
SPACE Architecture + Design will oversee the restaurant's design and build-out. Randolph says he expects the space will have about 85 or 90 seats and a larger waiting area, so guests who don't get a table right away won't be "as wedged in the corner" as they might be at the Clayton location. The decor will match the original Half & Half's "New England cottage vibe," with hardwood floors and accents of mason jars.
"Any time you get a second chance to build out a space, I think you can learn, from five years of experience, exactly what you want," Randolph says. "We're really excited to see how this one turns out."
