NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans' restaurateur Billy Blatty and Denver's Culinary Creative Group, including chef Max Mackissock and partners Katie O'Shea and Juan Padro, announced plans to open Sofia restaurant at 516 Julia Street in the heart of the Warehouse District. Scheduled to open in late 2018, Sofia will be a modern Italian-inspired restaurant developed by Culinary Creative Group (the team behind Denver's celebrated Señor Bear,Bar Dough, Highland and Sloan's Lake Tap and Burger restaurants and the forthcoming Morin) and Blatty (proprietor of Barcadia, Belle's Diner, Ohm Lounge and the forthcoming Bohemia).
"We have always loved the soul and energy of this city and we are humbled to become part of New Orleans' dynamic restaurant community," says Max Mackissock. "Sofia's menu will be rooted in Italian ingredients and culinary traditions, highlighted by the Gulf of Mexico's incredible bounty of seafood."
Mackissock and team will work with local purveyors, farmers and fisherman to source ingredients for Sofia's menu, which will feature house-made pastas, wood-fired pizzas and roasted meats as well as ingredients imported directly from Italy.
Blatty and team also announce the development of the Sofia Foundation, which will provide an annual grant or scholarship of $30,000. The Sofia Foundation will recognize an underserved New Orleans public school student that maintains high marks with a focus on music and pursuing continuing education in musical arts in combination with a college degree. The Foundation will provide assistance for tuition, instruments, lessons, housing, books, health care, and more. The Foundation will launch in conjunction with the opening of Sofia, with application criteria to be announced this spring.
"As the city of New Orleans celebrates its tricentennial, we are reminded how deeply rooted music is within the city's soul," says Billy Blatty. "We hope our contribution will help keep music alive as the epicenter for New Orleans' culture and also encourage and inspire our youth to pursue the arts, providing a path forward with continuing education, as well as a quality of life for these talented individuals. Ultimately, these new tradition bearers may bring joy to the masses in their love for music, while representing what it means to be from New Orleans, as did the artists who preceded them."
Beau Box Real Estate agent Jack Egle represented the tenant in brokering the deal for the new restaurant, which will be located next door to Felicity Property Co.'s recently opened Auction House Market.
"Given the recent surge in development and the resulting neighborhood vibe of New Orleans' Warehouse District, we were laser-focused on finding a location in this area," says Jack Egle. "We were fortunate to work with a very talented developer who shared the vision for Sofia, and we are confident they will thrive in this vibrant neighborhood."
Sofia will be located at 516 Julia Street and is expected to open in late 2018.
