Blindness (R)
Owen Kamihira talks about Deuce, new Philly projects
posted by a.d. amorosi
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| Owen Kamihira |
| Michael T. Regan |
Owen Kamihira will not be taking over Deuce — the spot across from his own tapas-snappy Bar Ferdinand at 1030 N. Second Street on Liberties Walk — that his pal and neighbor Laura Vernola closed for good on Sunday. At least not yet. "It's premature to say anything about Deuce because even I don't know," says Kamihira. He can't confirm or deny something that hasn't been confirmed or denied to him. (Though we've heard that landlord Bart Blatstein is hot to get the Deuce property filled, as it would look bad to have an empty boite on the block). "I don't PLAN to take it over," he emphasizes. "I'm just on the sidelines."
What Kamihira is opening in NoLibs is a Japanese tavern — an izakaya — across the street from Bar Ferdinand in Blatstein's infamous Building E. That's the Building E rumored to house a Jose Garces Asian-Latin spot supposedly coming in July. Kamihira says there's no timeline on this, but certainly summer would be nice.
Along with extending the outdoor dining at Bar Ferdinand to include an outdoor terrace and bar and opening its tapas menu up for Thursday nice-price tastings, Kamihira is also definitely opening a gastropub at 44th and Spruce that we're hearing (not from him) will be akin to "Standard Tap — only bumped up." The former bar that was once inhabited by police officers may have Michael Thomas — Ferdy's sous chef, ex-Lolita — at its helm. This, too, has no timeline.