The signs are up, but no opening date has been set by the owners. (Borderstan)

From Tom Hay

Afternoon update: A spokesperson for Estadio said today they hope to open the restaurant before mid-July, but do not have a set date yet.

It appears that Estadio at 1520 14th Street NW (at the corner of Church Street) is set to open very soon. During trips by the store over the weekend workmen were moving fixtures and heavy, dark Spanish-style furniture into the space. While it would appear there is much work yet to be done, it also looks like everything is now inside the store. We were unable to get a firm opening date from Estadio’s publicist.

The restaurant is owned by Mark Kuller, who also owns the very popular Proof over in the Penn Quarter at 8th and G NW. The cuisine will be contemporary Spanish, with a focus on northern Spain. The menu lists small snacks, or pintxos as they are known in the Basque region, priced from $3 to $6; traditional tapas, priced from $5 to $11; and small entrees or racions, priced from $12 to $19.

Fixtures, equipment and Spanish-style furniture were moved into Estadio over the weekend. (Borderstan)

Along the lines of Proof, Estadio will have an extensive selection of wine. Most of the wines will come from Spain and bottles will be in the $20 to $75 price range, with many by the glass for under $10.

Initially the restaurant will open for dinner only. Plans then call for it to expand to brunch service in the fall, followed by weekday lunch next year. The restaurant will seat 115 and will include communal tables and a private dining room for up to 24.

If you’ve managed to get a peek through the door during construction like I did, you will notice the extensive use of reclaimed Spanish tile, wood and iron. Based on the reputation of Proof I am convinced this will be a hit right away.

The restaurant space was formerly occupied by Garden District’s indoor plant store, which consolidated operations with the outdoor garden center at 1740 14th Street NW.