March 2018 Est. 1985
Your Community Newspaper
The Northside Chronicle
Volume 34 Issue 3 - FREE -
Brugge on North set to open in Alphabet City
By Neil Strebig
Jesse Seager, who owns and operates Point Brugge Café in Point Breeze and Park Bruges in Highland Park will be launching a new venture, Brugge on North @ Alphabet City within the next few months. The official announcement came via City of Asylum’s Facebook page on February 21. Seager and his team will be filling the vacant restaurant space in Alphabet City left by Casellula which closed in December 2017. According to Seager, City of Asylum co-founders Henry Reese and Diane Samuels approached him about the available space. “When we evaluated the
past year and lessons learned, we decided that our most important need was for a restaurant that was committed to our mission. We needed more than a good restaurant. We also needed a restaurant that could seamlessly be part of our readings, films, and jazz,” said Reese in an email. “The restaurant had to know what it means to be part of a community as diverse as the Northside and have an interesting menu with broad appeal and a variety of price points. When we put all these requirements down on paper, the first restaurant we thought of was Brugge.” While Seager wasn’t neces-
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Newsletters – Page 3 “Walk On By” exhibit – Page 4 Corner Alchemy – Page 6 AGH Cancer Center – Page 7 Crossing Fences Podcast – Page 10 Healthy Ride Stations – Page 14 CoLab 18 - Page 14 Summer Guide – Pg. 15 Property Transfers – Page 26 Marketplace Feature – Page 28 Education – Page 30
sarily looking to open up another space, he admitted that once he visited the space and explored the nearby Mexican War Streets with his wife Amy, they were smitten. “We weren’t looking to open another restaurant and were approached by Henry and Diane,” said Seager. “Once we went over there we loved it … we were amazed at how beautiful the space is.” Seager explained that the ability to host private events and share a space that promotes jazz, poetry and various cultural events was intriguing to him. The new set of options offers his team a set of challenges
with a “lot of benefits” in addition to a restaurant and kitchen space that is already “ready to roll.” “It’s something very attractive and different than the other two spaces,” said Seager. “We dig their mission and like being part of something bigger than just food and beverage.” For menu options, guests should expect the traditional Belgian flair and French staples of Seager’s previous two locations with some new signature additions that will help make Brugge on North stand apart. Point Brugge executive chef Susan Conroy, will be reprising the same role at the Northside location.
The beverage program will feature more beer and fewer wine options in comparison to their predecessor, Casellula according to Seager. “We’re a neighborhood place first,” said Seager. Currently, Brugge on North will be hosting a few private gatherings this month along with limited service during upcoming City of Asylum events; however guests shouldn’t expect the restaurant to offer full service until late April or early May according to Seager. Seager expects Brugge on North’s hours of operation to mirror his other two locations, however, nothing has been finalized, as of this writing.
AGH Cancer Center breaking ground Read more, Page 7
Photo courtesy of IKM Architecture