Downtown Springfield’s booming restaurant scene is set to formally welcome a trendy new location, Hi Hat Social. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on the morning of March 4 to mark the establishment's grand opening.
The proprietors who say the restaurant’s concept is “an extension” of themselves are local business owners Rod Hatfield and Andrew Lazear.
Hatfield and Lazear have been business partners in the area since January 2020. “I’ve been in this restaurant industry since I was 13 years old. Deciding to open up our first entertainment and hospitality business at the Market Bar, and now at the State Theatre, has led to this dream come true,” says Lazear.
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Anrew GrimmInside Hi Hat Social, which is celebrating with a ribbon cutting March 4.“Hi Hat Social is all about creating memorable experiences," Lazear continues. “That’s really what we hope to provide for anyone who walks through the doors. So this is a collaborative effort including the only chef we wanted to work with, paired with more modern and creative cocktails that complement his food, and again with great music. Altogether those pieces have made it very enjoyable, especially when done amongst friends.”
Hatfield and Lazear make it a point to emphasize an expectation of elevated hospitality, saying, “When you walk through this door you are a friend in the community. We don’t know any strangers. Our top-flight staff are all about making the experience hospitable. We feel so blessed to have the talents of Madison West, who is an anchor of that, as manager. She brings a level of prominence and experience from the broader artistic community. Especially from her time in Los Angeles working at the Rainbow Bar and Grill, a popular hangout in West Hollywood for rock musicians in the '70s.”
West moved back home to Ohio in 2020 and was introduced to the Springfield area upon renting a studio at The Hatch Artist Studios. “I was very privileged and excited to be asked to be the manager at Hi Hat Social. I really fell in love with the art movement going on in the area and I’m very excited to be part of the ground level, building up the downtown area again!" West says.
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Anrew GrimmThe lounge area of Hi Hat Social.“Having worked at Rainbow Bar and Grill for four years, I had an amazing experience being a part of that historic rock ‘n’ roll culture in West Hollywood," she continues. “Considering the State Theatre is just a block away from Hi Hat, I feel that having the entertainment and the hangout so close together to play off each other in such a glorious fashion is a beautiful addition to this downtown area, with its amazing art, music and food. I couldn’t be more excited to bring this offering to the public and show everybody what we've got. It was such an honor to be asked to be the manager here and it’s an incredible step in my career. I hope everybody comes and checks out our rad vibes!”
Though Hi Hat Social has been serving food and drinks since the start of the year, the soft opening allowed stakeholders and staff to develop a smooth-functioning operation and test the success of menu items. The eatery and bar incorporate themes of music, mixology, and meals prepared by Head Chef Clayton Horrighs.
“The inspiration behind my repertoire stems from the first moment I worked with Asian cuisine. I was captivated — these techniques and ingredients were unlike anything I had ever encountered. From that point on, I was hooked, and there was no turning back. With this new menu, my goal is to bring bold, boundary-pushing Asian-American flavors to our culinary scene. We know we’re not for everyone, but that won’t stop us from delivering a dining experience that’s as exciting as it is unforgettable” says Horrighs.
It is clear Chef Horrighs is eager to introduce the greater Springfield area to eye-catching dishes, though he isn’t the only one making ready for Hi Hat Social’s launch.
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Anrew GrimmChef Clayton James works on the lunch menu at Hi Hat.Award-winning mixologist and bartender, Joel Shear, has been selected to assist in the careful composition of an array of craft cocktails to choose from. Including various mocktails, the cucumber mule, a tomato martini, or the seppuku — a variation of a gimlet.
Shear has been tending bar in the area since 2003 and has been working with Lazear and Hatfield since they opened Market Bar in 2020. “Nothing has grown my ability in the craft like working with Andrew. His encouragement, and the freedom he allows me to exercise my abilities, helped me thrive,” adds Shear.
At the top of each menu, and painted across the storefront windows of the building, the words “Eat. Drink. Listen” — a sensible slogan that informs patrons and passers-by of what’s in store when they go to Hi Hat Social.
Owner Rod Hatfield reflects on how he has woven his own family history into the fabric of the establishment: “Springfield at one time had three variety radio stations! My dad, Dick Hatfield, was the longtime, drive-time Jazz radio broadcaster for WBLY. He was on air for more than 15 years. So growing up I was always with him in the station, in the record library, and being exposed to all kinds of great music…Sergio Mendes, The Four Freshmen, etcetera. We’ve made it a point to memorialize his work by recreating his sound booth on one of our walls! When any major Jazzer came through town my dad was often asked to introduce them. So as a 4 or 5-year-old kid I got to meet Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, even Buddy Rich! That just developed a lifelong passion for music and an admiration for musicians.
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Anrew GrimmGetting ready for the grand opening at Hi Hat Social.“My father always boasted Springfield’s affiliation with the greats, and those who have spent time playing around town. It's special to have some with such prowess spend their formative years here," Hatfield goes on to say. “So we have tried to do the same and celebrate some of them by incorporating them into the atmosphere at Hi Hat. Including Ada Lee, Griffin House, and John Legend. But someone particularly important to us would be jazz drummer John Dessinger. Born and raised in Springfield, he played in the area for practically eight decades. We were fortunate enough to inherit his drum kit, which we have showcased above the door. Not to mention — of the hundreds of records we have on display, 90 percent were his.”
Hatfield and Lazear would both like to extend thanks and acknowledgments to the Turner Foundation, Hucklebuck Design, Fireside Pottery, mural artists Cheyenne Shuttleworth and Peter Hrinko, and their investors.
Hi Hat Social will officially cut the ribbon at 28 South Limestone Street, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 4. Upon doing so, they plan on issuing a new lunch menu featuring cilantro-lime chicken wings, shrimp tacos, and odong noodles.
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Anrew GrimmA welcome sign at Hi Hat Social.