Controversial “Hipster Bar” Could Be Open by Next Week
A controversial hipster bar in Bay Ridge could be open as early as next week, almost a year to the day after it was first announced. Bay Ridge restaurateur Tommy Casatelli, of Kettle Black and Ho’ Brah, said last September that he would open a bar in his uncle’s old locksmith shop to cater to the neighborhood’s growing hipster population. “Bay Ridge needed to open its arms a bit,” he told the Brooklyn Paper. “We’ve been a spaghetti and meatball and Irish bar neighborhood forever. Brooklyn’s always changing and there’s room for everybody.” By January, locals had started freaking out, worried that stylish young people would stay up all night and ruin their ways of life. But since then the commotion died down; a January opening was delayed to June and then delayed again, apparently, as the bar still hasn’t opened. The planned beer garden missed the summer.
But it continued to work quietly toward opening: last month, Bay Ridge Odyssey published a photo of the new storefront, with the name spelled out Coney Islandishly in a red carnival-font outline filled in with yellow light bulbs. I heard that the chef was working out a hot dog/sausages menu (including maybe a vegan one? Hipsters!!) Now a website is up, though it just says “coming soon,” and a Twitter feed started up, promising it would be open soon. How soon?
“Hopefully by next Friday.”
@henrycstewart hopefully by next friday
— Lock Yard (@Lock_Yard) September 12, 2013
The bar also released its beer menu, a solid assortment of craft beers local and not, reasonably priced at $6 a pint. And despite initial reports of neighborhood animus, many others are delighted. “I just passed by—the place looks great!” one member of the local community board posted to my Facebook. “Can’t wait for it to open!”
Follow Henry Stewart on Twitter @henrycstewart
