1885 breaks ground on second location
1885 3914 St. Elmo Ave.
OPEN: 4-10 p.m. Monday Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday CALL: 423-485-3050
On a hot summer afternoon, St. Elmo stirs with life. And at its heart is 1885, the neighborhood’s locally owned grill, which has become one of the city’s most beloved spots since opening five years ago.
“Every month since we opened, we have been upping sales 10 percent,” said partner and manager Miguel de Jesus.
So it just felt right to finally open a second location. Overlooking Ooltewah’s Cambridge Square, the spanking-new two-story building is slated to open in late spring of 2019. Ground was broken only two weeks ago, but Miguel already has a clear vision for the future restaurant — which he refers to as “1885, the 2.0 version.”
The new space will feature a double-decker bar and patio. Upstairs will be lounge-like, complete with a U-shaped bar. Downstairs will boast a long wooden bar, more seating and a private dining area. 1885’s Ooltewah location will be larger, capable of accommodating 225 guests compared to St. Elmo’s 165.
The menus will be similar; though with a larger kitchen, Ooltewah’s 1885 will have more room to accommodate additional items. Oysters are one example, said Miguel.
“We’ll finally have space to shuck them,” he said. “I want [Ooltewah’s 1885] to become a crab place, as well. Do you know you can’t get king crab anywhere in this city? I want to be able to sample different kinds.”
But 1885’s current menu is still quite impressive, now showcasing three new recipes: marinated tomato crostini, crab and sausage gumbo, and lamp chops. And with its newly revamped wine list, now boasting 12-15 more wine-by-the-bottle options, 1885 is like a breath of fresh air on a hot summer afternoon.