If you've followed The Hat, you may remember that on occasion I've observed the sad situation in the former Cabo's, here and here. Now it can be revealed that in the Cabo's space, Rick Lyons, former partner in Star-Lite and Bandito's, is creating The Republic, an international comfort food/whiskey bar that's utilizing all reclaimed LEED building materials from green-focused developer Justin French's Shockoe Slip retail shop Restore in its construction.

I pass by this space every day and have wondered what is to become of it. I first knew it as Benjamin's, a smoky jazz bar with black-framed pictures of unsmiling men — a joke, I think — interspersed with those of the acts that had played there. F.T. Rea tells the story of his involvement there in 1969 when it was a psychedelic strip club named The Bearded Brothers.

A few weeks ago, while working on a story about developments in these stagnant days, I caught up with French. He told me then that a restaurant was on its way for the Cabo's place.

French is also putting in "condominium-finished apartments" in the Cabo's building and the three-story building next-door, where Diservio & Sobrito insurance and Dream Factory Productions were located until recently. On the third floor is a barrel-vaulted space that "back in the day" was home to the studios of Richmond's Alpha Audio. Here, in late May 1973, Bruce Springsteen recorded a six-song set for broadcast on WGOE-AM with Mike Appel, Jim Cretecos, Albee Tellone and David Sancious (who, according to the Handful of Brains blog, had yet to join Springsteen's band but worked then at the studio).

The Republic will feature a variety of international beers and theme days highlighting the origins of the food (paired with an appropriate whiskey, bourbon, and so forth). Right now, there's not much at the restaurant's Web site, except an animated logo and a countdown clock that indicates that time is slipping into the future fairly fast.

Design consultant Myrph Bowery of Decorum Interior Design says that Lyons and French are going for a warm, comfortable lounge feel. She projects a completion somewhere around October.

"We're using all reclaimed buidling materials," French says. "This includes maple floors, reclaimed heart-pine beams for the bar, all the tiled areas, and in bathrooms we'll use tiles made out of glass recycled from vehicle windshields." All the booths and tables will also come from previously experienced materials.

In addition, French, who now has an interest in CitySpace Solar, is installing solar panels on the restaurant's roof. The stage is being retained, but not David Turner's neo-classical backdrop.

"I own the building with my business partner, Matthew Appelget," French says."He has a residence in the 2000 block of Monument that's near this property."

French's goal is to create an entire restaurant corner. The three-story building will have apartments on its upper two floors, but on the street level, 1,000 square feet of floating event space will be available for either The Republic or neighboring Italian eatery Enoteca Sogno. Flanking the sides of the building's entry are sculpted halves of the globe, almost gone now due to corrosion and weather. The building was originally a fraternal meeting hall.

Below, however, is a 5,000-square-foot basement with concrete floors and piers. French wants to insert a dramatic staircase, like at Julep's, and create a wine or cigar club there.

All-in-all, a welcome revival for this end of Broad Street.