Zinc, open since November 1998, was built inside a structure over 100 years old. The building originally housed a turn of the century German newspaper press. Along with the building itself, the word "Zinc" holds historical significance as well. The idea of using zinc as an alternative surface for bar and table tops began in France in the early 1900's and became popular because of its availability and cost effectiveness. Before long, the word "zinc" (pronounced "zonc" in French), became a house hold term to describe what is now commonly referred to as a "bar". Accordingly, phrases like "getting zoncked" and "being zonckered", came into being.
Zinc is phase I of an ambitious complex (see our private event venues) that will be carved out of a cluster of historic buildings adjacent to Zinc. The development will include an upscale Mexican seafood restaurant as well as a small executive boutique hotel, which will overlook historical St. Charles courtyard. The proprietors taking on this challenge, who also own and operate the well renowned restaurant Boudros, (located one block from Zinc), say this complex will provide a "less hectic, more sophisticated alternative" to the River Walk.