The Jewish Mother opening Hilltop location

By Rita Frankenberry
The Virginian-Pilot

The colorful mural of surf and sand that covered the front of the old Jewish Mother building is no more.

The brightly painted cinder blocks came down last week after a demolition crew began tearing the old Pacific Avenue building apart. Since 1974, the structure had served as the home of the local restaurant-and-music hot spot.

Fielding Tyler, a local historian, said the Oceanfront area building was likely constructed soon after the end of World War II. Over the years it has also housed the Virginia Beach Sun-News, Virginia Beach Printing and the radio station WVAB-AM.
The structure was one of several at the Oceanfront that has recently been knocked down, making way for 31 Ocean, the new mixed-use development.

Despite all the history associated with the building, when Jewish Mother owner Scotty Miller found out he needed to vacate the building last August, he was ready to leave.

“It was heartbreaking, but it was time to move,” said Miller, who is putting the final touches on a new Jewish Mother opening in Hilltop. “There was a couple of tears, but no crying.”

Miller said the Oceanfront venue badly needed remodeling. That has made it easier for him to transition to the new Hilltop spot, the former site of the nightclub Steppin’ Out, on Nevan Road near the Kmart store. The restaurant opening is scheduled for Thursday.

The space is 9,600 square feet, nearly twice the size of the original Pacific Avenue venue.

The Hilltop location also includes a patio space, and, inside, tiered-seating leads down to the live venue’s main floor where musicians will perform. Adjacent to the stage, now wired with LED lights and a digitally controlled sound board, will be a green room for musicians where they can relax and rehearse before taking the stage.

The new location also doubles the size of the kitchen from the previous site, and the menu has also changed.

Patrons will still find the sandwiches and burgers The Jewish Mother is known for, but they will find some new international dishes as well. Also new is a deli counter up front, where people can pick up take-out orders, and a baby grand piano Miller has stationed at the end of the bar.

A pianist will be available around the clock, Miller said, to provide music for patrons when there are no live musical acts performing.

“This is kind of a dream that’s come true for me,” Miller said.

Although, he admits, making the dream a reality wasn’t easy.

Finding financing to build a new Jewish Mother in Virginia Beach – despite its iconic status locally – was a hard sell, and he says he was turned down by six banks. Finally, a local bank stepped forward.

“They saw it was an icon,” said Miller, who opened another Jewish Mother on Granby Street in Norfolk last fall.
“I think that kind of opened everyone’s eyes and made the deal happen.”

Rita Frankenberry, 222-5102,
rita.frankenberry@pilotonline.com