A former theater has been converted into more than 20 apartments and restaurant space. Photo by Michael Thompson.
The owners of a new Church Hill restaurant asked the Internet masses to name their new establishment and echoes of Patrick Henry answered.
Amy Foxworthy, Josh Carlton and Chip Zimmerman have chosen Liberty Public House as the name of their forthcoming eatery at 418 N. 25th St. in the renovated New East End Theater building. The name was selected earlier this month after the owners held an online naming contest that resulting in more than 1,000 suggestions spilling in.
The name alludes to Patrick Henry’s famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech, which was given at St. John’s Church in Church Hill. It also incorporates a traditional name for bars and pubs – public house.
“It’s a little nod to the history without being too tied to it,” Foxworthy said.
She said she was overwhelmed with the responses, many of which played on themes of history and the theater. The suggestions included 1,200 unique ideas with 576 individuals participating, according to the contest’s website.
Thirteen people had a variation on the winning name and from that batch, a winner was chosen at random to receive a grand prize of a $100 gift card, an eponymous menu item, and an invitation to the Liberty Public House’s soft opening in January. The rest of the group was given $25 gift cards.
“To keep it fair anyone who had thrown out those suggestions deserved a shot,” Foxworthy said.
The winner was June Heesen, and the runners up were Eric Vaughn, Nathan Cohee, Biki Mitchell, Roman Haueis, Joshua Marble, Hays Hill, Donna Lynne Carter, Jon Emerson, Jodi Allen, Vic Palmeri, Kaley Rosenthal, and Cortney H.
Other names that did not get selected incorporated references to Edgar Allen Poe, topography, puns, and the theater. There was also a fair share of colorful, idiosyncratic suggestions Foxworthy preferred not to repeat.
Foxworthy, who with Carlton and Zimmerman also owns The Mill on MacArthur restaurant in Bellevue, said she enjoyed holding the naming contest and would do it again.
“It was cool to get feedback,” Foxworthy said. “It got people interested and excited.”
Carlton and Zimmerman also own Mojo’s Philadeli on West Cary Street.
Liberty Public House will open in a 3,500-square-foot space on the ground floor of the renovated theater. Local developer Josh Bilder led the $4 million redevelopment of the 90-year old property, converting it into 22 apartments and street-level commercial space.
A former theater has been converted into more than 20 apartments and restaurant space. Photo by Michael Thompson.
The owners of a new Church Hill restaurant asked the Internet masses to name their new establishment and echoes of Patrick Henry answered.
Amy Foxworthy, Josh Carlton and Chip Zimmerman have chosen Liberty Public House as the name of their forthcoming eatery at 418 N. 25th St. in the renovated New East End Theater building. The name was selected earlier this month after the owners held an online naming contest that resulting in more than 1,000 suggestions spilling in.
The name alludes to Patrick Henry’s famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech, which was given at St. John’s Church in Church Hill. It also incorporates a traditional name for bars and pubs – public house.
“It’s a little nod to the history without being too tied to it,” Foxworthy said.
She said she was overwhelmed with the responses, many of which played on themes of history and the theater. The suggestions included 1,200 unique ideas with 576 individuals participating, according to the contest’s website.
Thirteen people had a variation on the winning name and from that batch, a winner was chosen at random to receive a grand prize of a $100 gift card, an eponymous menu item, and an invitation to the Liberty Public House’s soft opening in January. The rest of the group was given $25 gift cards.
“To keep it fair anyone who had thrown out those suggestions deserved a shot,” Foxworthy said.
The winner was June Heesen, and the runners up were Eric Vaughn, Nathan Cohee, Biki Mitchell, Roman Haueis, Joshua Marble, Hays Hill, Donna Lynne Carter, Jon Emerson, Jodi Allen, Vic Palmeri, Kaley Rosenthal, and Cortney H.
Other names that did not get selected incorporated references to Edgar Allen Poe, topography, puns, and the theater. There was also a fair share of colorful, idiosyncratic suggestions Foxworthy preferred not to repeat.
Foxworthy, who with Carlton and Zimmerman also owns The Mill on MacArthur restaurant in Bellevue, said she enjoyed holding the naming contest and would do it again.
“It was cool to get feedback,” Foxworthy said. “It got people interested and excited.”
Carlton and Zimmerman also own Mojo’s Philadeli on West Cary Street.
Liberty Public House will open in a 3,500-square-foot space on the ground floor of the renovated theater. Local developer Josh Bilder led the $4 million redevelopment of the 90-year old property, converting it into 22 apartments and street-level commercial space.