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Honcho Bar, a craft beer, wine, champagne and small bites spot aiming to open on 1st Street in Los Altos this spring, snagged a crucial conditional use permit Thursday night and can move forward with construction.
Honcho is the passion project of Roderick Newman, a Los Altos resident who’s worked in the food-and-drink industries almost his entire life, from barista-ing and bartending to managing San Francisco restaurants to a stint as assistant food and beverage director for a large resort in Carlsbad. He recently snagged the space at 235 1st St., formerly a children’s toy store, to take the plunge and open his own place.
Newman is hoping Honcho will offer Los Altans a comfortable, upscale yet friendly spot to hang out, drink and eat.
“Really the goal for me is to have a gathering space for people to work or get to know each other or share a meal or just have happy hour,” Newman said.
Honcho will serve local beer; wine, champagne, coffee, tea and “global tapas.” (The space
The 1,100-square-foot space will have a lounge feel with several couches and some coffee tables, Newman said.
The name is playful – Newman’s mother used to tell him when he was young, “You think you’re a real head honcho,” he said.
“We wanted something easy to remember, something whimsical to some degree. Luckily when I say the name people usually kind of chuckle first and then go, ‘OK.’ That’s primary for me — to have a fun place.”
Honcho’s is in good company, too, just steps away from the new Cho’s Mandarin Dim Sum and the second outpost of Tin Pot Creamery.
Newman said he’s aiming to open in April or May, barring any major roadblocks.