Teaism Requests to Open Restaurant in North Old Town

Washington, D.C.-based tea house Teaism is looking to venture into Virginia by opening a restaurant in North Old Town.

The applicant for the restaurant, Vitalitea, has asked the city for permission to open a shop at 682 N. St. Asaph St., which is in the building that also houses , and .

The previous tenant at the 682 location was Sizzling Express, which closed in August 2009 and the space has since remained vacant.

According to the application, city staff recommends approval of the request, which also asks for a parking reduction.

Vitalitea proposes to operate a "fast casual" restaurant in about 4,700 square feet of space with an emphasis on Asian-inspired food, including on-site sales of alcohol and no live entertainment.

A small area in the restaurant would be dedicated to retail sales of tea related items.

Catering services also would be offered and food delivered directly to customers via a delivery van, which would be parked off of the street. Two new doors would be added to the side of the building facing Trader Joe's grocery store, according to the current proposal.

There would be 197 seats - 157 inside and 40 outside - which represents an increase of 66 seats when compared to the Sizzling Express. Outdoor dining would have to wrap up by 10 p.m. and indoor dining would run until 11 p.m. or midnight on the weekend.

It's also requesting a 13-space parking reduction.

According to city code, one off-street parking space is required for every four restaurant seats. A restaurant with 197 seats would be required to provide 50 off-street parking spaces plus one space for each delivery vehicle.

Teaism said it will provide 37 parking spaces and one for its delivery vehicle. City planners said they support the request because the outdoor seats will be "seasonal in nature," the location is served by public transportation, some diners may walk or bike to this location and some shoppers may frequent more than one establishment in the Saul Building, where the restaurant would be located.

Teaism restaurants are also located on Washington's Dupont Circle, Lafayette Park and near the Verizon Center.

The request will be heard before the Planning Commission on Sept. 8 and is scheduled to come before City Council on Sept. 17.