Last weekend Bar None closed, and John Bragg announced that “some Downtowners you will all recognize” had purchased the space. By Friday I had learned the identity of the owners, but kept it a secret for a few days until they were ready to get the word out.
I can now spill the beans, because co-owner Jeannette West just sent me info to post. She and her husband Jamie West, both currently bartenders at the Silly Goose, are opening the place along with Blue Fin bartender Colin Bergstrom. Jeannette’s father Rick Comans is an owner not involved in operations. The new bar will be a speakeasy called The Blind Bear.
They will have drafts, bottled beer, wine, liquor, specialty drinks/ martinis that they have developed over years and new ones created for the speakeasy. “Think of us giving you a ChamPBR instead of a PBRtini,” Jeannette joked, referring to my signature drink at the Goose.
Michael Bean, currently at the Goose, will be kitchen manager. “Food will be lots of veggies like Grandmas Mac n Cheese, sandwiches like BBQ bologna, fried peanut butter & banana, BLT, grilled cheese, salads, desserts like banana pudding, sweet potato pie (also recipes from our Grandmas),” Jeannette wrote.
There will be poker night, trivia night with Charles who currently does the Goose’s trivia and used to do the Cordova Saucer, and other theme nights in the works. They plan on having many speakeasy elements in their bar, “But those are wait til you see them surprises.”
The Blind Bear will be open 7 days a week, evenings only, except for Sunday brunch. Sounds like another awesome place to hang out is opening up only a few blocks from my front door – glad I just renewed my lease! They’re shooting for early December as the opening date. Congratulations Jeannette, Jamie and Colin!