Nina May co-owners Danilo Simic and chef Colin McClimans are ready to branch out with a second restaurant: Elena James, an all-day cafe and market, will open in Chevy Chase, Maryland in late summer or early fall. As with the pair’s first venture in Shaw, the seasonal American restaurant is named after new kids, Elena , who just turned one, and James , who is 18 months old.
Nina May debuted only a few months before the start of the pandemic, which derailed plans to launch a morning-time cafe and lunch. At Elena James, the team is planning full-service breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a market for grab-and-go coffee drinks, homemade pastries, sandwiches, salads, and ready-to-heat meals. The 5,000 square-foot space will have roughly 150 seats indoors, and a 40-odd person patio.