The Vandal and Spirit Turn Six
Joey Hilty, owner of The Vandal.
“The restaurant that we are today is little to nothing like the restaurant we opened with.”
Joey Hilty, owner of The Vandal, says this reflecting back on the past six years. In 2015, he opened The Vandal, now a Lawrenceville destination for inventive, modern-yet-comforting eats, as a sandwich shop. “The only common thread at this point,” he says, from 2015 to now, is him.
This weekend, The Vandal and Spirit, another beloved neighborhood spot also turning six, are throwing themselves a joint birthday party.
Like The Vandal, Spirit has seen its fair share of changes in the past six years. “I believe we've always had good-quality food and drink here at Spirit, but in the last couple of years, the level of service and consistency of what we offer has truly come a long way,” says Thomas Barr, owner of the bar. He goes on to say that LG Swanson, assistant General Manager, has been integral in taking Spirit from a bar and venue that serves good pizza and cocktails into a restaurant, bar, and venue that serves “really good pizza and cocktails.”
“We also don't light off bottle rockets and shotgun beers behind the bar during Bingo Bango anymore... Those days are over…,” he quips in an email.
Regulars, for both owners, were a constant source of support over the years.
“When floor managing Brunch for years, the staff and I would always notice the amount of regulars that we had that would actually come in multiple times a month. It was one of those things that made us feel happy to be there, knowing that you had so many familiar faces in the room on a Sunday afternoon,” Barr says.
Spirit has always been a touchpoint of community, from supporting local musicians and artists through shows and installations to serving as a pickup spot for 412 Food Rescue’s Ugly CSA.
“A lot of people don't know this, but the name Spirit comes from 'Spirit of the Moose' which was the slogan that we found on the Loyal Order of Moose's website. We always wanted to keep that Family/Celebratory feel that a lot of those old clubs had, but make it a place for everyone,” Barr explains.
Hilty says their regulars are “everything” and “are just as much what makes our experience unique as what we do.”
Moving forward, Hilty says he feels like The Vandal, having created a consistent language for their food, is in place to really “double-down on everything.” They’ll continue to dig into their beverage program, develop their wine list, and focus on the details.
“You factor in the past year… and it really makes you take stock in the core principles in what you want to do and what you want to be,” he says.
The Vandal and Spirit are hosting their sixth birthday party on June 6 at Spirit. Food will be provided by both restaurants, along with a flurry of music, art, and more.
If you can’t make the part, celebrate on your own with one of the many recipes Hilty has shared with TABLE. Our favorite? The rice pudding.