UPDATE: Black Rabbit is scheduled to open Saturday, September 29th at 3pm.
There are a few sandwich shops set to open soon around town. One I am not free to discuss just yet and another who has been delayed by a few months. There is one, however, that is coming up on the finish line. It could end up being the most popular of the bunch.
The Black Rabbit is a 35 or so-seat luncheonette and full liquor bar set to open mid-August in Savannah’s ever growing Victorian District.
“We just want something nice, something simple.” says Patrick Zimmerman, one of the partners in the effort. The neighborhood regulars may know Patrick has one of the two faces behind both Betty Bombers All American Grill inside of the American Legion Hall on Bull Street as well as Butterhead Greens. The latter having closed for good a couple of months ago.
“This is all I am doing right now.” Patrick says.
Black Rabbit has been in the works for well over a year. The space, clearly, was already there on Barnard Street near the corner of Henry Street. Some work needed to be done on the inside. That work is nearing an end. The focus will very soon turn to the city for permits to occupy and then licenses to serve alcohol.
“Our menu will be small, simple but creative.” Patrick says. “We haven’t finalized it yet, but we want a Turkey and Havarti, perhaps Roast Beef. Not more than 5 sandwiches and three sides.”
On one side of this pretty small space is the food. Counter service for lunch or dinner. A few steps back will be their bar. With seating along the wall and a small patio. “We are going to close back there at 10pm” Patrick says “Just to keep the noise inside and not disturb the neighborhood.”
You can expect a great selection of music, but don’t expect a television or a flashy sign out front. There are no plans for signage. If you know it’s there, you can Eat It and Like It. If you don’t? Well, you might just walk right on by.
The plan right now is for Black Rabbit to remain open until 1am. “We are initially going to open about 3:00 in the afternoon.” Patrick says “Once we get those hours under control, we will discuss opening earlier for the lunch crowd.”
This spot is the latest eatery to fill in the gaps in the Victorian District. It wasn’t that long ago that Bull Street was deserted between Duffy Street (Local 11ten) and Foxy Loxy near the Public LIbrary at 33rd Street and Bull. The “Bull Street Corridor” has received no shortage of publicity the last year or so. It is the fastest growing section of Savannah.
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