Light Up Your Night with Firefly
Tiana Sigala, staff writer
Need to feed your inner-child? Then the Woolen Mills area has a treat for you with Charlottesville’s own, one-of-a-kind Firefly.
Firefly, while filled to the brim and bursting with a warm, playful ambience, is more than just a place to eat, drink, or play. This hybrid restaurant, arcade, and bar is the concept of its original owner Mark Weber. Weber had dreamed of one day owning a barcade-style restaurant, and his diagnosis with late-stage cancer is what pushed him to make this dream a reality.
“I realized that my clock may be running out, and I bought this place so I can have the experience, and share it with other people,” Weber told Cville Weekly in 2014. A photo of the departed owner hangs in a place of honor above the bar. The restaurant is now owned and operated by his girlfriend, Melissa Meece, who keeps the dream going in tribute to Weber.
“It’s kind of this bright light in the darkness, like a firefly. But also really it’s about kind of the, this light that’s going to continue on, that’s going to live on. I mean this is his legacy,” Meece said to NBC29.
The industrial warehouse features soaring ceilings and bright natural light. Seating is plenty and varied, but the star of the dining room is the corner arcade area, which features Ms. Pacman, Galaga and Tekken cabinet-style games, as well as skee-ball and pinball machines. The fun does not end there though, as the dining room also features a pool table, and adjacent to the bar is a shelf full of board and card games. The restaurant also features dog-friendly patio seating –– that is, as long you are okay with your pup being featured on the restaurant’s Instagram.
The fare is American, focusing on local and organic. Firefly is registered as a Green Restaurant with the Virginia Green program and Meece is dedicated to sourcing local, sustainable products to minimize their environmental impact.
According to their website, “We strive to reduce our impact on the environment by conserving energy, water, paper goods, and generally making conscious decisions about our sourcing.” A chalkboard in the building notifies customers that scraps are donated as compost to a local farm.
The menu features ample vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, such as the famous, local No-Bull burger ($13) served with house-made vegan pesto or a tangy Sweet-Chili Tofu Sandwich ($12), dressed with a slaw. Either can be served with a side of sweet potato fries or tater tots.
Alternative diet options are carefully thought out and excellently executed, and the restaurant prides itself on “having a menu that is at least 50% vegetarian,” according to the website. Gluten-free and vegetarian options are clearly labeled on the menu, and the soup of day is always vegan. The restaurant serves local Boylan Sodas and has a revolving tap of local ciders and ales.
As a restaurant alone, Firefly is a stand out in Charlottesville’s crowded foodie-scene; however, having taken into account its story and mission, Firefly is a jewel not to be missed.
Take your friends, take your family, take your neighbor’s kids and get on out to Firefly on 1304 E Market Street for a night of video games, pool and delicious, carefully sourced food and drinks. Firefly is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11-12 a.m. on Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays.
