A local restaurateur has been approved by the university to open a restaurant and possibly a cocktail lounge in the vacant Darnall cafeteria next semester, pending final lease negotiations.

The restaurateur, C.W. Chon, said that he has received final approval from the university and added that it could take up to a month to finalize negotiations on a lease for the Darnall space. Chon, who operates Epicurean and Company, a restaurant on Connecticut Avenue, said that the Darnall establishment will be his 15th restaurant.

Chon said that plans call for three dining venues in the location — a cafeteria, a sit-down restaurant and a cocktail lounge — all to be operational by September or October. Chon said that renovations should take at least six months starting when the lease is completed.

The dining spaces would be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Chon said that no decision has been made about whether credit cards or student meal plans will be allowed.

All three venues will be served from one central kitchen, which will prepare a variety of “international food,” Chon said.

Chon said that he hopes his new restaurant will capitalize on low satisfaction with food options at O’Donovan Hall and “provide palatable and fresh meals to students, employees and the whole neighborhood.”

If operating independently from the university, however, the lounge would need to receive a liquor license from the Alcoholic Beverage Commission before it could serve alcoholic beverages.

According to local Advisory Neighborhood Commission member Brett Clements (COL ’07), however, this process is lengthy and may meet resistance from the ANC.

“Honestly, I don’t know what would happen,” he said.

GUSA President Twister Murchison (SFS '08) expressed excitement at the prospect of a restaurant and lounge in the vacant Darnall space.

“Having a second dinning option on campus in addition to Leo’s will be very exciting to most students,” he said. “Most importantly it will provide a late-night venue where students on campus can gather.”

University officials declined to comment on Darnall negotiations. An official announcement of the deal is expected in the next week or two, however.

The university has been working to fill the location since the Darnall cafeteria closed last spring. Several brand-name vendors, including T.G.I. Friday’s, were under consideration, according to students close to the negotiations.

The Corp entertained the idea of opening a restaurant and bar in the location but never applied for the contract.

Once complete, the restaurant will fill one of two vacant cafeteria spaces on campus, leaving empty only the New South cafeteria, which was vacated in the spring of 2003 when O’Donovan Hall opened.

Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson said that when New South was vacated conceptual designs were drawn for a student oriented space that would include lounges, an informal dining area, a ballroom, dance studios and space for student media.

Olson said that an official timeline for the New South project has yet to be announced.

“We are prioritizing this project, which will cost several million dollars, in the context of all the capital projects we are planning for and currently managing,” he said.