Gardner (1914 East 6th Street) co-owners Ben Edgerton and Chef Andrew Wiseheart announced today that they will close Gardner onSaturday, March 11. The restaurant, which received national praise including a nomination from Bon Appétit for Best New American Restaurant 2015, will be open for nightly dinner service (Monday–Saturday) beginning at 5:30 p.m. and Sunday brunch service from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. until the final dinner service on Saturday, March 11. Gardner was the third concept from Edgerton and Wiseheart, who together co-own and operate EdgeWise, a hospitality group whose culinary operations include East Austin’s Contigo and Contigo Catering. Following the final evening of operation, the former Gardner space at 1914 East 6th Street will close to undergo construction for a new restaurant concept from Edgerton and Chef Wiseheart, Chicon, which is slated for a soft opening in late March.
“Andrew and I feel extremely fortunate to work together and alongside what we consider the best team of people in our industry,” says co-owner Ben Edgerton. “We are fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to launch three businesses in our tenure. Gardner was the most ambitious of these three concepts, and it has been extremely rewarding to serve the people of Austin for the past year and a half. Ultimately, our goal is to serve our community well, and we are excited to work diligently to transform the Gardner space into a new restaurant that will accomplish that goal. Thank you for the continued opportunity to serve.”
The final month of Gardner will include special menus and wine and cocktail specials announced weekly via the Gardner Facebook page and Instagram account. The entire staff of Gardner invites its many loyal patrons as well as those who have yet to experience the restaurant’s fare to celebrate Gardner’s tenure by dining a final time before the set closure date.
“The achievements that we’ve accomplished with Gardner far surpass any expectations we had. We have a great team, and I’m honored and humbled by the past year and half. With Chicon, my goal is to make the food that my team and I love to eat. We’re excited to make food for the every day. We’re still going to be using the same ingredients, have the same drive, and we seek to create a place that people in the neighborhood will love,” says Chef Wiseheart.
Architect Kevin Stewart will design Chicon, the new concept from Edgerton and Chef Wiseheart, with interiors by Ann Edgerton. Chicon will be a sister restaurant to Edgerton and Wiseheart’s restaurant Contigo and will feature wood-fire cooking. The restaurant will further expand on the Texas ranch aesthetic that Contigo established in 2011, including handmade steel and cedar furniture by Brian Chilton and custom terra cotta lighting from neighboring Clayworks Studio. Chicon will provide seating for 120 between the indoor dining room and outdoor patio and will feature an expanded bar program. More information regarding the menu, hours, and staff of Chicon will be available in early March.
