Para Charlotte will open Jan. 17 in the former Zeppelin space with Alex Verica as chef de cuisine. Industry veteran Dave Feimster will be an operating partner in the restaurant. Feimster will remain in his role as executive chef and director of operations at Fahrenheit.

The menu will be farm-driven and seafood-focused, Verica says, with a bit of Asian influence and a raw bar. Feimster hopes to create a destination for both meals and late-night hangouts.

“It will bridge the gap between an upscale dining experience along with a great cocktail program and late night experience,” he says. “We want to be the place you can do dinner and drinks out, or a place for a night out with friends while staying in an upscale lounge and intimate environment.”

The announcement that Verica was leaving The Stanley came as a surprise to many, as Paul Verica — chef/owner and Alex’s dad — recently opened a second restaurant, Orto in NoDa. Alex, however, says he’d been looking to do something different, even applying for jobs in Charleston, after working with his dad for seven years, first at Heritage, then Orto. 

“Some days are hard and some days are easy, but it’s always fun,” Verica said of working for a parent for so long. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything, especially Heritage. I was very green and young and he whipped my ass into shape. And I’m very grateful for that.”

At The Stanley, Alex had come to run the kitchen, managing the staff and menu development. He’ll do those things at Para, as well, with Feimster working with him on the menu and acting as both boss and mentor. The menu will be rounded out by dessert and cocktail programs. His sous chef will be Thomas Clement, who worked at Peppervine and Fahrenheit before joining the Para team. 

According to Feimster, Para is an abbreviation of “imparable,” French for unstoppable — a phrase he says ownership group Parliament Hospitality has used for years and seemed fitting for opening post-pandemic.  Para also translates to “for,” however, and a second interpretation of the restaurant’s name is “For Charlotte.” Though the restaurant is named unstoppable, its opening is least delayable, as the pandemic has caused a long wait for many of the materials needed for the restaurant’s renovation. Originally slated to be serving guests by April, the restaurant is now looking at an early June opening.

“The opening we feel is coming at a great time for us,” Feimster says. “With the restrictions and limitations on the restaurant and bar industry finally letting up, it will enable us to open and provide a full blown experience and not one that is toned down as it would have been prior to the curfew and such being lifted.”

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