Von Blaze has been a popular place to dine downtown since it opened in 2022. The Wall Street restaurant serves up an inventive menu of upscale-yet-casual fare that earned it a dedicated fanbase in a short time.
Von Blaze was named “Best New Restaurant” by one publication in 2022. Chris McDonald, a co-owner and culinary mastermind behind the menu, won the “Best Chef” category in the annual Best of Morgantown awards in 2023.
McDonald and his co-owner, April Passaro, are now using their considerable momentum to open a second restaurant built on the same basic principles as Von Blaze: Good food, a welcoming atmosphere, and great service. The plans were first alluded to on social media in June, when the leadership team also began to solicit funding from Von Blaze’s devotees to cover startup costs such as for renovations and equipment. Those who donate will be upgraded to the top tier of the new loyalty program, which promises special perks when patronizing the restaurant.
This month, the owners provided more details on the forthcoming establishment, which will be called Quarterly. The menu will be revamped every three months to feature a different theme or regional cooking style. Every quarter, there will be something new and interesting to look forward to. McDonald won’t be the only chef at Quarterly.
“We want to offer the space and a quarter to other chefs in the area who may have an amazing restaurant idea or family recipes but may not have an opportunity to showcase their skills and act as a guest chef during a 3-month period,” read a recent Facebook post.
Quarterly will also offer a full-service cocktail bar with a rotating cast of drinks that will coordinate with the shifting food menu.
Quarterly will be headquartered at 341 High St., in the same block as Von Blaze. While the team is mum on an official opening date, they aim to launch Quarterly in late fall. McDonald has undertaken the build-out of the space, intending to transform the former Mountaineer Fan Store into a gathering space for Morgantown food fans to appreciate novel food and drink.
EVA MURPHY is a freelance business writer for The Dominion Post. She writes a column on businesses, churches and other entities in the city. To suggest a topic, email her at Newsroom@DominionPost.com.
