As students headed back to the Corner last night, they may have noticed that a familiar face was missing.
The old Greenskeeper is gone from University Avenue, and a new bar and restaurant has taken its place.
Jab-er-wok-e, pronounced "Jabberwocky", opened its doors after Greenskeeper's last call on Jan. 4. The new eatery takes its name from Lewis Carroll's famous poem, "Jabberwocky," and the owners hope the creative name is the first step toward reinventing the old Greenskeeper.
"In the customers' words, the Greenskeeper had seen better days," general manager Ben Galloway said. "We decided to give it a face lift and better food."
Originally from Phoenix, Galloway's family purchased the Greenskeeper in mid-September and relocated to Charlottesville.
Galloway's goal is to establish Jab as a place known for its delicious food and casual, comfortable environment.
The new lunch menu will include deli sandwiches made from Boars Head meats and cheeses on fresh baked bread. Other options will include salads and bread bowl soups.
Jab will also introduce a new hamburger to the Charlottesville area. This mini-burger, popularly known as a "slyder" in the Midwest, will round out Jab's lunch menu, which debuts Monday.
The dinner menu will change continually, and will consist of pastas, meat and other entrees.
So far, Galloway says the menu has been a big hit, and he's been sending empty plates back to the kitchen.
Looking to gain exposure, Jab will offer good deals and coupons on its food, hoping students won't be able to turn it down, Galloway said.
But good food isn't all that Jab has to offer. The bistro will feature live entertainment, both during lunch and dinner hours.
"We'll have everything from music to comedy," Galloway said. "Our lunch performances will include soloists and acoustics playing everything from jazz to blue grass."
When the sun goes down, the Jab will become a bar with local bands and brews for the over-21 crowd. Tonight's entertainment features the band Lyman with FFO, and Saturday night's lineup includes the Tragic Thieves with members from Ki Theory.
"We really want to broaden the appeal," Galloway said. "The Greenskeeper had such a limited appeal, and it was mainly a guy's scene."
Galloway hopes that the refurbished interior will make Jab a place that female students would consider for a girls' night out -- making it a more diverse crowd.
"We're here to rock the Corner," he said. "We want to stir things up."
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