A new bar and restaurant is coming to Columbia’s Rosewood from an owner of The Whig
There soon will be a new hangout for those looking for a place to perch in Columbia’s Rosewood neighborhood.
The Hoot bar and restaurant plans to open in June at 2910 Rosewood Drive suite 1. That’s in the space that was formerly home to The Kraken Gastropub, which closed in 2019. A subsequent restaurant, Sineater Global Kitchen, had been planning to go into that space, but that project never came to fruition.
Several owners — including Chelsea Ford, Jessica Ochoa, Will Green and at least one silent partner — are coming together to open The Hoot. Green was a co-owner of The Whig, the venerable dive bar that was located in the basement at 1200 Main St. in Columbia. The Whig closed in November after 17 years, as plans to convert that building into a hotel began moving forward. Green also is a partner in WECO Bottle and Biergarten in West Columbia.
Those familiar with the Rosewood neighborhood in southeast Columbia likely know there are often owls spotted along its leafy, tree-lined streets. That’s, in part, where The Hoot gets its name.
“Here in Rosewood, we love our owls,” Ford said. “All of (the bar’s) owners, we’ve all lived in Rosewood. Also, there is a fake owl on top of the building, which is cool. And The Hoot also references a good time.”
The menu for the new venture is still coming together, but will feature beer, wine and liquor at the bar, as well as cocktails. The Hoot also will have a full dinner menu that the owners are calling “incidentally plant-based.”
“It will be bar food, with lots of Southern touches, and it just happens to be plant-based,” Green said. “We like to think about gaps in the Columbia market, folks that aren’t being served. The plant-based menu means that literally everybody can walk in the door and find something they are going to enjoy. It’s a way of us sort of opening our arms to everybody.”
The partners have been hard at work preparing the Rosewood Drive space for The Hoot. It’s low-lit and cozy, with blue and green hues along the walls, which are adorned with paintings of owls and other birds.
“With the vibe, we are definitely focusing every aspect of the business on being comfortable for everyone,” Ford said. “We want a comfortable, relaxed, fun atmosphere. We definitely want to reflect that in the aesthetic.”
Ford joked that the the look of the place gives the vibe of “eclectic grandma meets dive bar.”
Green’s involvement in the project will likely lead some to immediately draw parallels to The Whig, which was a beloved Main Street institution for the better part of a decade. While he was clear that The Hoot is not a direct sequel to The Whig, Green said customers will likely find winks and nods to that former subterranean watering hole.
“There are definitely things here that Whig fans will recognize and love,” Green said. “Certain touches. I spent a lot of time thinking about how to preserve the values and feel of The Whig. So, while (The Hoot) is not The Whig, the way that we treat our customers, the openness we have to people, the way we want people to feel when they’ve left us, that’s all going to feel very familiar. If you had a good time at The Whig, we think we can give you a good time here.”
The Hoot is accepting applications for front and back of the house employees. Those interested should reach out via the bar’s Instagram page, @hootcolumbia.
