An art deco Miami-style restaurant in Mt. Pleasant? True story. But don’t go thinking Will Smith circa ’98. Rather, John Adamson, owner of The Rarebit says his latest endeavor, The Americano — set to open at 819 Coleman Boulevard (formerly Next Door restaurant) mid-June — will be a 1940s bar and restaurant with a Latin menu.
“The Americano is going to be a casual place, like The Rarebit. But instead of a 1960s racetrack look, I pictured a fictitious character from Cuba moving to Miami in the 1940s and opening a bar on the beach,” Adamson says. If visions of Desi Arnaz crooning in a nightclub come to mind, hold that thought. According to Adamson the design aesthetic will be less cabaret, more polished. “It’s going to have stained wood and a variety of antiques,” he says. Sounds like the kind of place Hemingway would have frequented.
For the build out, Adamson, his step-brother Robert Hightower, and managing partner Brandon Omahoney are expanding the space and extending the patio to the street front. “Mt. Pleasant is encouraging a more main street feel on Coleman, so all of our parking will be behind the building,” he notes.
As for the kitchen, speculation has been that frequent collaborator Brannon Florie of The Granary would be involved. However, a chef has not yet been named and Adamson is keeping tight-lipped on the matter. What we do know is champion Rarebit bartender Brent Sweatman (of house-made tonic and soda fame) is on board and currently concocting a list of creative elixirs to fit the theme. Here’s hoping for a true Papa Doble, the famous Hemingway daiquiri.
As for why he chose Mt. Pleasant as the site for his second space, Adamson says, “I felt like there was a hole to fill in Mt. Pleasant. There’s enough hip people there who will appreciate something cool.”
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