The Hive, Wilmington’s newest boutique hotel, will soon be home to Cross Street Waffles + Whiskey. The cafe and bar is expected to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as craft beer, wine and cocktails.

Hive owners Robert Rosenberg and Kaylie O’Connor have partnered with Jonathan Leichliter, a veteran chef with a wide range of experience in the restaurant industry, including highly acclaimed restaurants in Sante Fe, New Mexico, Austin, Texas, and Aspen, Colorado.

Leichliter said his focus will be on light, locally sourced, grab-n-go fare such as sandwiches and salads, along with about 8 to 10 sweet and savory waffles. A full coffee bar will be offered, as well as a curated selection of domestic and international whiskeys.

The roughly 1,000-square-foot space is currently under construction and will have table seating for about 35 guests, as well as a 6-person bar. Leichliter expects breakfast and lunch to feature counter service, while dinner will be full-service.

Owners say The Hive, at the corner of Second and Red Cross streets, brings a unique approach to the hospitality industry by utilizing technology to provide easy, 24/7 self-check-in. 

There are 14 apartment-style suites appointed with luxury linens, full-size kitchens, separate living areas, spacious bathrooms, laptop-friendly work spaces and complimentary in-suite snacks, coffee, tea and other beverages. 

The first six suites were open to guests in June 2019 and the remaining eight were completed in November 2019. The Hive recently celebrated a grand opening ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.

Cross Street Waffles + Whiskey is expected to open by this summer.

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Correction: The name of the restaurant has been corrected from an earlier version.