Backstage Pass

Derric Thomas, founder of the Half Note Restaurant & Lounge Shares What Is Next For The Iconic Community Venue

BACKSTAGE PASS

Derric Thomas is an entrepreneur and an advocate in his community. Through his career as a Maryland attorney practicing business and corporate law; and through his time as the founder and owner of the beloved Half Note Restaurant & Lounge. Born and raised in Washington D.C., he moved to Tacoma Park, Maryland when he was a teenager.

“I have been living in Prince George’s County for the last 30 + years. I am much like the entrepreneurs that I represent. My first foray into the restaurant, lounge, and club business was opening Bay Street in 1992 In Prince George’s County. That gave me the initial exposure into the business. Then, I went on to law school,” Derric said, “I graduated from Howard University Law School. I decided in 2007 that I wanted to build a restaurant and lounge in the community that I live in, to serve customers like me.”

The Half Note Restaurant & Lounge came to fruition in 2008 because Derric wanted to open a venue for the community to enjoy. “I wanted to build a place that I would love to come into – a safe environment, good food, good parking, and entertainment. I wanted to build a place that the community needed,” he said.

Recently, the decision has been made to close the original Half Note Lounge location and move to a different area. Many loyal customers and patrons are concerned that Derric was forced to move, but this was a decision he made on his own.

Derric says, “The Half Note brand will live on. I am taking on a partner to successfully run the brand in a new location. Although, the shopping center was purchased with the intentions of creating a megachurch, I decided with a year remaining on my lease that it was time for me to move on to something different. I don’t want people to be mad at this church. It really was my decision to move on to a new chapter.”

A new location for the Half Note Lounge has been identified and all of Half Notes’ employees will be guaranteed a position at the new location. This is a very positive move and everyone will have job security even though they are moving. The new venue will host the same type of food and entertainment while carrying on the Half Note Lounge name.

Throughout this transition, Derric will have a background role to guarantee that everything runs smoothly so the community can have the venue that it knows and loves. “One of my goals for 2020 is to follow through and make this a successful transition in a new location. I want to ensure that the vision remains as it is.”

What’s Next For Derric Thomas in 2020? “I will be practicing law and helping people fulfill their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs. I will also be focusing on my foundation called The Talented Tenth Foundation helping young black men get into colleges and universities through SAT Prep. I believe that everyone who wants to go to college should be able to. I am interested in affecting positive change in this community. I believe it is truly important to be an involved member of your community and we have a responsibility to give back.”

For updates on the new location, visit HalfNoteLounge.com.

R.S.V.P R.S.V.P

Date : April 30 th Time : 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Location : Sign In For A Virtual Meeting

Check out Instagram, Twitter and our e-newsletter for more details.

Simply Bowie Magazine and Holland Custom Designs has partnered to bring you our first Bowie Business Roundtable Discussion. The Topic Is: Challenges. What have been some of your challenges while running your business? There will be Keynote Speakers and time for us to do a Q&A with Business Owners. This will be a Virtual Meeting and all is invited to join!