If a Tree Falls in the Woodland...

UPDATED: Woodland owner Michael Terrazas has shared news about changes in the works at the popular SoCo dining spot. Employees, neighbors, and customers were surprised to find the Woodland (1716 S. Congress) abruptly closed for business as of Sept. 7.

While the outgoing phone message says the Woodland has closed for renovations and will be reopening in two months, owner Michael Terrazas advises us that he will have new partners in a new restaurant that he hopes to have open in eight to ten weeks. His new partners are Botticelli's (1321 S. Congress) owners Andrew and Matthew Botticelli and Tim Brown. The new concept replacing the Woodland will be called Little Barrel & the Brown. "We'll still focus on New American cuisine with a custom cocktail menu and several craft beers on draft," Terrazas reports. "There will be some renovations and we couldn't keep the restaurant open while we were making those changes."

Opened in 2006, the casual and comfy Woodland was originally a collaboration between Terrazas and chef John Wolfe after their fine dining success with Starlite in 2000. Wolfe left the restaurant early on and Joe Hanus had been executive chef there for the past five years. The Woodland was the latest of several dining spots to operate out of the small Congress Avenue storefront: Liberty Catering, Liberty Pie, Lambert's, and Seven all preceded the Woodland in the space. Due to a lack of convenient daytime parking, the restaurant only served dinner and Sunday brunch. The former Woodland staff are all looking for jobs.