NEWPORT, Ky. — A tiki bar, food truck and bakery are among the restaurants and retailers coming to an open-air food court at Newport on the Levee.
Dubbed Bridgeview Box Park, the space will occupy the former site of Mitchell’s Fish Market on the Levee and will feature a turf plaza with festival lighting.
The park will accommodate a food truck and four “boxes” that look like shipping containers. Guests can walk through the park while drinking alcohol, thanks to an Entertainment Destination license.
Some of the businesses that will open at Bridgeview include:
Kon-Tiki on the Levee
- A laid-back tiki bar serving exotic drinks, perfect for soaking up the views of the riverfront
The View at Shires’ Garden
- A food truck version of the restaurant located at City Club Apartments in Cincinnati’s Central Business District, this spot will offer picnic-style grilled and smoked meats, sandwiches and sides, as well as handmade empanadas and other snacks.
The Little Spoon Bakery and Café
- A bakery by Courtney Augsback specializing in custom sugar cookies and baked goods. Little Spoon will also serve Carabello coffee and a full-range of espresso drinks and beverages.
Bon Mi Street
- A creative Asian street food eatery with a unique spin on the traditional banh mi sandwich and refreshing milk tea with a variety of toppings.
Leaf & Limb
- A boutique featuring a wide variety of indoor plants and curated goods from local and worldwide artisans.
The developer, North American Properties, announced on Wednesday the park would be coming to the Levee “soon,” despite the pandemic.
Adam Schwegman, senior vice president of leasing at NAP, said in a statement the open-air design of Bridgeview Box Park lends itself to creating a comfortable gathering place as the community emerges from quarantine.
“We are creating an experience akin to sitting on your deck at home, except imagine that you are sipping an umbrella drink while people watching and taking in the four bridges stretching over the river,” Schwegman said. “The Box Park model is part of our approach to curating a retail and restaurant mix that is fresh, modern and approachable for small businesses.”
At the box park and throughout the Levee, NAP has enacted its COVID-19 response program, Better Together. The plan, which is designed by a 14-person task force, follows guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Security will be in place to enforce rules and make sure people are 6 feet apart. Crowds will be limited to 10 people or less.
- Signage will be installed to remind people of social distancing, and floor decals will be placed so patrons can stand apart when ordering food.
- Sanitation of high-touch areas will increase, and hand sanitizer stations will be installed across the Levee.
- Encouraging the use of face masks and providing masks to guests who ask for them
- Spacing out furniture in common spaces, when approved by the governor, with marked placers to ensure 6 feet of separation between parties.
- Asking all employees to monitor their health and temperature daily. They have also been provided with protective face coverings and gloves.
This program will be refined once Gov. Andy Beshear outlines protocol on reopening restaurants. NAP has already launched Better Together at two mixed-use properties in Georgia, where openings have been approved.
Tim Perry, managing partner at NAP, said Bridgeview is uniquely positioned to allow people to responsibly enjoy Newport.
“The rules around public gatherings have certainly changed, but we believe the act of being together and communing is an important human experience that we are craving now more than ever,” Perry said in a statement.
