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It is consolidation in one sense, expansion in another.
MW Restaurant is moving to Velocity Honolulu, where chef-owners Michelle Karr- Ueoka and Wade Ueoka will also reopen their lunch venture, Artizen by MW.
The two-floor location in the Symphony building on the corner of Ward Avenue and Kapiolani Boulevard previously housed Italian restaurant Viaggio Honolulu upstairs and an espresso bar downstairs, in addition to a high-end car dealership.
After renovations, they expect to open Artizen in late January, and MW for in-house dining in time for Valentine’s Day.
The award-winning main restaurant opened in 2013. It has been doing only takeout since COVID-19 hit in March and is moving just a couple of blocks toward downtown. Artizen, established in 2015, was in the Hawaii State Art Museum but closed in August due to the pandemic.
“It kind of makes sense for us, being in the same place and having two revenue venues, MW upstairs in the Viaggio space and Artizen downstairs, to go with our takeout program,” Ueoka said. “It gives us an opportunity to have a drive-thru set-up.”
Artizen will offer to-go lunch and dinner, similar to MW’s current takeout-only menu, plus casual breakfast items.
MW and Artizen will both have happy hours, Ueoka said.
“This past year has been a roller-coaster, and we are so thankful for the support we’ve received from our customers,” said Karr-Ueoka, a schoolmate of Brad Nicolai, CEO of the JN group, which owns Velocity. “We can’t wait to welcome them back in a fresh space, with new offerings and signature dishes.”
Afternoon tea service, which MW previously offered, might return, Ueoka said.
“Brad had a great idea to do that, since the Bentley space is right next door to the restaurant,” he said.
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MW Restaurant will offer curbside takeout at its current 1538 Kapiolani Blvd. location through New Year’s Eve, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays (except Christmas, which had a Dec. 19 preorder deadline. Monday is the deadline for a Dec. 31 preorder). Go to mwrestaurant.com or call 955-6505.
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