Tiny Boxwood’s Seeks Alcohol Permit From City

The old JMH grocery store may soon be turning into a café that serves beer and wine if West U City Council approves a request for an alcohol permit.

Landscape architecture firm Thompson + Hansen, who purchased the property at 3636 Rice Blvd. in March, is seeking an alcohol permit for a new Tiny Boxwood’s café. Council needs to approve the variance to serve alcohol because they are within 300 feet of West University Elementary.

Gregg Thompson, co-owner of Thompson + Hansen and Tiny Boxwoods on West Alabama Street, told residents during a meeting last night that he wants beer and wine to be part of the dining experience.

“This will never be a bar,” Thompson said. “It’s just never going to happen.”

The JMH location will be Thompson’s second Tiny Boxwood’s café featuring a very simple menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

“We like to keep it simple, we like to keep it fresh,” he said.

Some of the things they will have on their menu include quiche and fresh baked bread. Tiny Boxwood’s will bake their bread and pastries on premises, he said.

Thompson said he plans on having a nursery component to the café with plants for sale, but no fresh cut flowers.

“We want to have a floral component as an offering to the public,” he said.

Other aspects to the café include a private dining area, wine and cheese on the patio and a special brunch on Sundays.

Thompson said they are not sure how late they will be open, but their hours will probably be similar to Edloe Street Café and Deli and Matthew’s Market.

He said they will be open Tuesday through Saturday at 7 a.m. for breakfast and will serve brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. They will be closed on Mondays.

Thompson said they have spent just as much time on the outside of the building as they did on the inside. The parking lot area will have a green space to help with noise.

Thompson said he doesn’t want people driving down Edloe to see cars parked in the parking lot; he wants them to see the green space.

“When you step inside the parking lot you feel like you’re somewhere else,” he said. “We want the neighborhood to enjoy it.”

Thompson said some of the neighborhood concerns with the new café are noise, parking and traffic.

Tiny Boxwood’s will have limited outdoor seating in an effort to help with noise. They will have four outdoor tables with four seats at each.

They have 59 parking spots and because of their location, expect many customers to walk to the café.

Tiny Boxwood’s had requested a curb cut from the zoning and planning commission to improve traffic flow, but their request was denied.

Thompson said one of his ideas with parking and traffic is to have an electric shuttle that will pick up and drop off residents at the café. The shuttle could make 12 runs a night and would provide a way for people to enjoy themselves at dinner and keep more cars out of the parking lot, he said.

He also said he considered giving a discount to customers who don’t drive to the café.

Thompson said they will provide their own trash pickup service so there will not be garbage trucks coming to pick up their trash.

Last night’s meeting was required for Thompson + Hansen alcohol permit request to the city. Thompson said he plans on having one more meeting with residents at some point.

The city is required to hold a public hearing so residents can voice their opinions on the alcohol permit request. The date of the public hearing has not been determined.