Haakon’s Hall transforms for its long-awaited opening

Having grown up in a typical Russian household, I often meet optimism with a hearty dose of cynical disbelief. I must admit that when I heard about the new restaurant, Haakon’s Hall, I thought it was too good to be true. I was hopeful but slightly doubtful. Fortunately, the world is not always as unfair as I make it out to be. Haakon’s Hall is opening despite the obstacles thrown its way.

When I walked into the future restaurant, it was obvious that many changes had been made in the last four months. The first time I saw the space on 119th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in November, a flurry of words and gestures had to convince me that the transformations would indeed take place. But upon visiting again, I could see that the workers were making progress.

Two kitchens reminiscent of those found in suburban homes across the country have replaced the garbage and broken plaster that once covered the floors of the restaurant. The main purposes of these “pantries”—as owner James Lenzi dubbed them—will be to host lessons and lectures on topics such as wine tasting and dorm cooking.

The bar, which was the central focus of the previous owner’s business, has been remodeled to look classy and casual. The bar has already been set up with taps for beer and soda and has been equipped with two large refrigerators for storing bottles of wine. The rest of the space has been enhanced by a decorative floor and soft lighting. It feels clean, comfortable, and simple—just as Lenzi hoped it would.

So why has the opening been delayed? Lenzi admits to having made mistakes throughout the construction process. “I paid experts to do what they do. Creatively and artistically, they were good. Administratively? Not so much,” he said.

It is not surprising that Lenzi has been struggling. The restaurant business has suffered substantially since the start of the recent economic downturn. When cutting back is imperative, one of the first things to be eliminated is eating out. It becomes a luxury, and in a competitive environment like New York City, staying afloat as a restaurant becomes nearly impossible.

Lenzi was left with limited funds because he had to completely restructure the space he had purchased. “I ran out of resources,” he said. In fact, it was Columbia that turned the situation around. He gratefully acknowledges the help he has received from Columbia’s real estate department. “They’ve been awesome and accommodating. They’ve given us advice that would have cost thousands for free. They really want us to be successful,” he said.

Lenzi is still engaged in a mini-battle with the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Historical Society for a space on which to create a community garden in collaboration with local elementary schools and Columbia. He has gone so far as to cite Michelle Obama’s White House gardening endeavors as support for his case. It is perplexing as to why the city would be so opposed to a garden, considering the abundance of recent national efforts to make America’s eating habits healthier.

The ottomans are being shipped, the menu has been finalized, and the suppliers have been secured—a “soft” opening is just a few weeks away. Lenzi hopes that by the time school starts up again in September, Haakon’s Hall will finally be up and running.