river town prime steakhouse & grill

Located near Williamstown, West Virginia, on property historically associated with the Henderson Hall estate, River Town Prime Steakhouse & Grill was designed by Phillips Sekanick Architects as a contemporary hospitality destination rooted in the area’s architectural character. Development standards called for a design respectful of nearby Henderson Hall, a 19th-century Italianate mansion overlooking the Ohio River. Phillips Sekanick Architects responded with brick and stone masonry, deep roof overhangs, exposed wood supports, and historically influenced detailing, creating a modern restaurant with a clear connection to the region’s heritage.

Construction during the COVID-19 pandemic created significant material and labor challenges. Originally designed as a steel-framed structure, the building was adapted by Phillips Sekanick Architects to load-bearing cold-formed metal framing, using materials and construction resources that were more readily available locally while preserving the original architectural intent.

The completed restaurant combines upscale indoor dining, a lively bar, outdoor dining, and water-adjacent patio seating within a setting designed to take advantage of the surrounding landscape. Independent coverage described the ambience as the “real star of the show” and the environment as “warm and inviting.”

The project demonstrates Phillips Sekanick Architects’ experience in restaurant architecture, hospitality design, historic-context design, commercial site development, and innovative construction solutions, blending the architectural legacy of Williamstown with contemporary restaurant operations.