Showing posts with label Connor's Place. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Connor's Place. Show all posts

Thursday, June 13, 2019

The Standard Plate & Pour is coming, so let's remember what preceded it in the Bader Block and adjacent Parthenon.


The Standard Plate & Pour has set June 24 as its target opening date, and in the time-honored tradition of the entire human race, let's celebrate the advent of this new downtown New Albany eatery by describing its footprint -- according to what used to be there.

"The way to the royal castle? Why, you take a left where the oak tree used to be, then a right where they sold mead in leather buckets back when I was a kid."

The following was published on November 24, 2015 -- as Gospel Bird was preparing to open. Here's a photo to complete the narrative.


As a final preliminary note, be aware that TheatreWorks of Southern Indiana has been staging theatrical productions in the Parthenon for the past two years. 

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As announced on Monday, a new downtown New Albany restaurant called Gospel Bird is being developed by Louisville chef Eric Morris and is slated to open soon in the Jacob Bader Building at 207-209 Main Street.

We welcome Morris and the Gospel Bird with open arms and our senseless one-way streets.

Steve Resch now owns this prominent building, as well as the adjacent historic bank known by New Albanians as the Parthenon. Resch also will be rehabbing upstairs living space at the Bader Building, a project started by a previous owner but never completed.

Gospel Bird will be the fifth dining/drinking establishment to occupy the Bader Building site since 2007. Others have been located in the Parthenon space. Following is a brief rundown of previous occupants ... because institutional memory is important in a city where selective recall is the norm.

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When the Mr. and Mrs. Confidential moved downtown in 2003, the Bader Building’s street level commercial space was occupied by Maytag Laundry & Dry Cleaning, which had been in operation for decades.



At the time, both building and business were owned by Carl Holliday and Steve Goodman, who had purchased them in 1999. I’m unclear as to exactly when Maytag closed, although it was still operational in 2006.

When David Himmel departed Bistro New Albany to open his own bar, the Maytag floor space was remodeled and Connor’s Place was born in May, 2007



By September of 2008, Goodman and Holliday had placed both the Bader Building and the Parthenon up for auction (eventually they were sold to new owners), but Connor’s Place had been gone for more than six months.

Himmel put Connor’s in storage in mid-2008 while opening The Market Street Fish House (current location of the Louis Le Francais), then re-establishing Connor’s Place in the freshly rehabbed space now housing Bella Roma. It opened there during Harvest Homecoming, 2008.



The MSFH closed in November, 2009, and Connor’s Place became defunct in May of 2010.

In the early summer of 2008, Studio’s Grill and Pub took over in the Bader Building. Studio’s was owned and operated by Trish Meyer, formerly a key employee at Sam’s Food & Spirits. Studio’s was the scene for many city council unhappy hours, and was reviewed favorably on more than one occasion.



Studio’s closed in September of 2010, and almost immediately, Matt McMahan opened The Irish Exit. It wasn’t terribly Irish, and apart from a brief period in early 2011 when Drew Scharlow manned the Exit’s kitchen, the establishment generally functioned as a nighttime drinks mecca.



In November of 2011, McMahan announced The Bank Fusion Cuisine + Lounge in the Parthenon space, but it never really jelled. By November of 2012, The Bank had become a music venue called Dillinger’s, which enjoyed a longer run, through 2013 and into 2014.



The Irish Exit ran for four years, making its final exit in late August, 2014. Shortly thereafter, Don Vito’s Italian Bistro became the second downtown restaurant to feature Italian cuisine. There was optimism when Don Vito's was announced, but considerable snark in the opening innings proved to be a harbinger of short life to come, as Vito left after less than a year.



Resch has owned the property since early 2015, and his team is at work preparing for the Gospel Bird restaurant's opening.

Join me in wishing good fortune to everyone involved!

Late supplements: 

Jeff Jackson reminds us that Journey Church met in the Parthenon for nine months in late 2013 and early 2014

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

The Gospel Bird is coming, so let's remember what preceded it in the Bader Building and Parthenon.

As announced on Monday, a new downtown New Albany restaurant called Gospel Bird is being developed by Louisville chefs Eric Morris and Dustin Staggers, and is slated to open soon in the Jacob Bader Building at 207-209 Main Street.

We welcome Staggers, Morris and the Gospel Bird with open arms and our senseless one-way streets.

Steve Resch now owns this prominent building, as well as the adjacent historic bank known by New Albanians as the Parthenon. Resch also will be rehabbing upstairs living space at the Bader Building, a project started by a previous owner but never completed.

Gospel Bird will be the fifth dining/drinking establishment to occupy the Bader Building site since 2007. Others have been located in the Parthenon space. Following is a brief rundown of previous occupants ... because institutional memory is important in a city where selectivity is the norm.

---

When the Mr. and Mrs. Confidential moved downtown in 2003, the Bader Building’s street level commercial space was occupied by Maytag Laundry & Dry Cleaning, which had been in operation for decades.


At the time, both building and business were owned by Carl Holliday and Steve Goodman, who had purchased them in 1999. I’m unclear as to exactly when Maytag closed, although it was still operational in 2006.

When David Himmel departed Bistro New Albany to open his own bar, the Maytag floor space was remodeled and Connor’s Place was born in May, 2007


By September of 2008, Goodman and Holliday had placed both the Bader Building and the Parthenon up for auction (eventually they were sold to new owners), but Connor’s Place had been gone for more than six months.

Himmel put Connor’s in storage in mid-2008 while opening The Market Street Fish House (current location of the Louis Le Francais), then re-establishing Connor’s Place in the freshly rehabbed space now housing Bella Roma. It opened there during Harvest Homecoming, 2008.


The MSFH closed in November, 2009, and Connor’s Place became defunct in May of 2010.

In the early summer of 2008, Studio’s Grill and Pub took over in the Bader Building. Studio’s was owned and operated by Trish Meyer, formerly a key employee at Sam’s Food & Spirits. Studio’s was the scene for many city council unhappy hours, and was reviewed favorably on more than one occasion.


Studio’s closed in September of 2010, and almost immediately, Matt McMahan opened The Irish Exit. It wasn’t terribly Irish, and apart from a brief period in early 2011 when Drew Scharlow manned the Exit’s kitchen, the establishment generally functioned as a nighttime drinks mecca.


In November of 2011, McMahan announced The Bank Fusion Cuisine + Lounge in the Parthenon space, but it never really jelled. By November of 2012, The Bank had become a music venue called Dillinger’s, which enjoyed a longer run, through 2013 and into 2014.


The Irish Exit ran for four years, making its final exit in late August, 2014. Shortly thereafter, Don Vito’s Italian Bistro became the second downtown restaurant to feature Italian cuisine. There was optimism when Don Vito's was announced, but considerable snark in the opening innings proved to be a harbinger of short life to come, as Vito left after less than a year.


Resch has owned the property since early 2015, and his team is at work preparing for the Gospel Bird restaurant's opening.

Join me in wishing good fortune to everyone involved!

Late supplements: 

Jeff Jackson reminds us that Journey Church met in the Parthenon for nine months in late 2013 and early 2014. 

Thursday, February 27, 2014

What year is it, anyway?


That's February 18, 2014.

The photo, on the other hand ... if memory serves, both Windsor and Connor's Place ceased to exist in 2010, so it's probably from late 2009.

Be Local Expo, or as the Germans would say, "geschlossen."

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Connor's Place ceases and will make way for an Italian-themed eatery -- or so we're told.

8:20 p.m. photo update, courtesy of Mike Kopp:

I've received confirmation of the rumors that Connor's Place is no more. As of the past weekend, Dave Himmel's bar on Market Street has closed, with its place to be taken by an Italian eatery. The name I've heard bandied about is La Bocca -- can anyone confirm that?

As it has been explained to me, the new operator approached Steve Resch about buying the building, and in the process also bought Himmel's equipment and furnishings.

Naturally, we're sad to see Dave Himmel and his establishment depart the downtown scene. It was difficult for him to establish a niche amid the many incoming food and drink businesses, and at least this way, he gets something back for his investment. I'll have more information on the new restaurant when it comes to me.

Meanwhile, the new location for La Rosita's on Pearl Street has been the scene of painting and interior work during the past two weeks, and further afield, Milltown's Blue River Cafe burned yesterday morning.

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Market Street Fish House and Connor's Place will combine.

Today I saw the sign at the Market Street Fish House, and it says what we'd been hearing. It's moving across the street to become part and parcel of Connor's Place, now to become all-in-one.

Reopening date for the new kitchen is December 15, and the menu at Connor's reportedly will retain some of the items (sandwiches?) available there previously. As always, we wish Dave Himmel and the Connor's crew the best of luck.

Note: I ran into Matt Bergman later at First Tuesday, and he says that the search for a new tenant is under way.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

NA Event Watch: Block Party on Market, Wednesday, September 30.

This one is evolving, but here’s the outline at present.

Dave Himmel of Connor’s Place on East Market Street, New Albany, is getting the requisite approvals to hold an outdoor block party on Wednesday, September 30, starting at around 5:00 p.m.

Market Street will be blocked off between Pearl and Bank, and the block party will take place there. There’ll be a band performing and an NABC beer garden, with food from Connor’s, NABC Bank Street Brewhouse, Windsor Restaurant & Garden, and perhaps others yet to surface.

I’ll update this posting as more information comes to me.

Sunday, May 03, 2009

New: Lunch hours at Connor's Place.

Many readers know Stephen Powell and Richard Atnip, current and former NABC employees, and both of whom are interested in the developing downtown New Albany scene. For the past few weeks, they've been working out ideas and recipes in Dave Himmel's kitchen at his pub, Connor's Place. Among these experiments have been excellent chicken wings (Jamaican-style is my favorite) and sandwiches.

Beginning on Monday, May 4, they'll be opening Connor's Place for lunch, billing "sandwiches, salads, and more!" The dining hours will be from 11:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., with my educated (?) guess being Monday through Friday lunch hours, and the two switching off for evening food at times yet to be announced. As far as I know, seeing as both are licensed, the bar will be open during these hours, too.

Connor's Place Pub is located at 13 E. Market Street in New Albany, and the phone number is 812-725-7055. Questions? E-mail the entrepreneurs here (remove "at" - you know the drill):

s.powell09(at)insightbb.com
richardatnip(at)yahoo.com

Sunday, December 07, 2008

Upcoming events at Connor's Place.

Straight from Dave Himmel's command center, here are a few of the upcoming events at Connor’s Place in downtown New Albany, where two of NABC's beers customarily are on tap. The pub is located at 134 East Market in downtown New Albany. If you haven't seen Dave's remodeled new digs, come and take a look. It's comfortable and convenient to other downtown spots.

Wednesday, December 10
World Class Beverages Holiday Beer Tasting
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Friday, December 12
Live music: Da Mudcats
8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Friday, December 19
Rib Tip Dinner, featuring Rib Tip Tony
Starts at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, December 20
Live music: Da Mudcats
8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Friday, December 26
Live music: Louisville Blues
8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Monday, March 31, 2008

Numerous comings and goings for food and drink in downtown New Albany.

Finally baseball season has arrived, and with it the necessity of surveying major league rosters to account for the winter’s trades and free agent signings.

In like fashion, the assemblage of downtown New Albany eateries and watering holes has undergone a near complete overhaul in recent months. Here are a few of the changes, bearing in mind that as usual, my primary emphasis is on those businesses aiming to have good beer as part of their presentation, and consequently are of greater interest to me personally. I know that some are being omitted, and welcome their inclusion via comments.

First, a quick shout-out to Speakeasy Jazz on State Street, which has survived both the Bistro New Albany and Connor’s Place, and should benefit from the unexpected closing of the Jazz Factory in Louisville.

Many readers have asked about the abrupt departure of Connor’s Place, formerly located at 207 East Main Street, and now in storage and on hiatus. It is a circuitous story that begins with owner Dave Himmel’s inability to reach a lease agreement with his landlords, continues through his oft-stated desire to open a fish and seafood restaurant downtown, and hopefully will end when the aquatic project, slated to be called the Market Street Fish House, comes to fruition in mid-April at 133 East Market (location of the now defunct Treet’s Bakery Café).

Just across Market Street from the soon-to-open Fish House is an unused commercial building that will be remodeled to spec for Dave by its new owner, and in this space a revamped Connor’s Place hopefully will reopen by mid-summer.

Got all that? Might as well rename that stretch of Market as "Himmel Way" and get it over with. When Connor's Place returns, NABC will have beer there.

You may be wondering what is to become of the Main Street quarters formerly occupied by Connor’s, and the answer comes from an NAC informant:

A new restaurant will be opening where Connor’s Place was, and they are planning on having ongoing artist showcases. It is going to be called “Studios” and the owner’s name is Trish Meyer.

There is no further information on the sort of eatery Studios will be. Trish, if you're reading ... let us know what's up.

Back around the corner in the building that most natives still call the New Albany Inn, The Windsor Restaurant & Garden is open for business at 148 East Market, which in Louisville-area parlance is “where the late, lamented Bistro New Albany used to be.” Business First recently offered a preview of the establishment, which is observing lunchtime hours at present and will expand into evening dining when it’s warm enough to use the famous courtyard. NABC has been contacted about beer for the Windsor, and we’re cautiously optimistic that there’ll be a good beer program there, though perhaps not to the scale of bNA’s great list.

Meanwhile … in the historic Baer building at 321 Pearl Street, work continues on the River City Winery. A couple hundred yards northeast as the crow flies is the spot on Bank Street where NABC is continuing to plan its production brewery and taproom ... and don't ask me "when" this is going to happen unless you have a wheelbarrow full of money to invest.

Elsewhere, the Orchid Asian Cafe is located at 400 West Main, and is an intriguing addition to the downtown dining scene primarily because the menu includes Thai and Vietnamese offerings beyond the usual Chinese fare, and the décor is bright, modern and absent the kitsch generally associated with “Chinese” restaurants. It’s almost impossible to fathom that the venerable Kerstien’s tavern used to occupy the new home of the Orchid. No alcohol, but we’ve been impressed so far with the food.

What am I forgetting? Make a comment and let me know.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Halloween bash at Connor's Place tomorrow.

Wikipedia does Halloween (and no Gang of Four jokes from me):

The Festival of Halloween is a celebration of the end of the fertile period of the Celtic Goddess Eiseria. It is said that when Eiseria reaches the end of her fertile cycle the worlds of the dead and the living interlap. This happens on October 31. Masks are worn to show respect for the Goddess Eiseria who, like most Celtic deities, does not wish to be seen with human eyes. The day also preceeds All saints day, which was at first the celebration of the start of a new cycle of fertility for the celtic Goddess Eiseria. Couples incapable of producing children thus tried their luck on All saints day.

Fast forwarding to the present, the on-line information resource adds:

Trick-or-treating may often end by early evening, but the nightlife thrives in many urban areas. Halloween costume parties provide an opportunity for adults to gather and socialize. Urban bars are frequented by people wearing Halloween masks and risqué costumes. Many bars and restaurants hold costume contests to attract customers to their establishments. Haunted houses are also popular in some areas.

No Admiral Bicknell haunted house jokes from me ... although the combination of Halloween, masks and Professor Erika's haunted word processor is almost too good to pass up.

Anyway, it's the perfect segue into this reminder that on Wednesday, October 31, there'll be a Halloween bash at Connor’s Place. NABC beers are on tap, bar owner Dave Himmel is encouraging costumes, and NABC's own musical brewer Jared Williamson and his longtime collaborator Tommy Potts will be performing. It's all taking place downtown at 207 East Main.

You might even wear a half Groucho mask and a Hawaiian shirt, and come as "Dave Himmel." Here's an artist's rendition for use in planning your costume ... see you there.


Thursday, October 11, 2007

Where to drink good beer during Harvest Homecoming.

Speaking personally, it has been a cherished goal to live long enough that I might be able to enjoy a craft beer downtown during New Albany’s annual Harvest Homecoming celebration, and by doing so, to strike a small blow against the hegemony of the swill merchants.

In 2005, the old House of Bread put two kegs of NABC beer on tap during Harvest Homecoming, and last year, its successor, Bistro New Albany expanded the NABC selection while adding craft beers from Upland (a Bloomington, Indiana microbrewery) and others from America and around the world.

BNA will do it again this year, and there’ll be NABC and Upland beers on tap once again. Unlike last year, BNA will conduct food and drink business during booth days both outside on the patio and inside in the dining room, which means that one need not be restricted to elephant ears and rolled oysters (the latter remaining a favorite of mine) from the street side vendors.

Another marvelous option is added for 2007: Connor’s Place, run by former BNA partner Dave Himmel, and located on Main Street adjacent to the Parthenon. CP will feature NABC drafts during Harvest Homecoming: Community Dark, Elector, Flat Tyre, Hoptimus (limited quantities) and Mt. Lee (also limited quantities).

Flat Tyre will be available in cask-conditioned form from the hand pump, which has been borrowed from NABC for the occasion, giving Connor’s the distinction of being the first New Albany establishment during the modern era to offer hand-pumped “real” ale. When the cask version is depleted, there’ll be a regular keg as back-up. Connor’s Place will also have Oktoberfest beers from Upland, Browning’s (Louisville micro) and Spaten (Germany).

I believe that Elector will be on tap at Speakeasy Jazz, NABC’s remaining downtown account.

Yes, swill reigns supreme at Harvest Homecoming, and it probably always will. However, all we ever wanted was a choice. Now more than ever, we have it. If you like good beer and you’re downtown the next three days, visit one of these fine establishments and buy one. In NABC isn’t your taste, my feelings aren’t hurt; have another microbrew or an import instead, and let them know that you appreciate having options. Rest assured that if it were up to Anheuser-Busch, you wouldn’t have any.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Tribune visits Connor's Place during last night's grand opening gala.

The Tribune was there last night:

Drink scene spills south from Market Street, by Eric Scott Campbell.

Connor’s Place, a bar catering to the pub-grub-and-patio crowd, opened its doors Monday evening next to the Parthenon at Main and Bank streets. Owner and father Dave Himmel leased and renovated the historic Maytag building after selling his stake in the neighboring Bistro New Albany last winter.

It was a good crowd and much fun last evening. Best of luck to the Himmels.

Monday, May 14, 2007

Connor's Place grand opening is tonight; regular business hours to commence tomorrow.

We are beginning the week with a sad farewell ... and a joyous new beginning.

Rick Carmickle’s funeral is today. He died last Thursday, and will be sorely missed downtown. Oft-quoted words written by Kurt Vonnegut, another pure Hoosier original just like Rick, seem highly appropriate as we celebrate Rick's life:

"Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies -- 'God damn it, you've got to be kind.'"

Rick didn't get his hundred years, but he was kind, and he did much good. I’ll have one in his memory tonight at Connor’s Place, the new eatery and bar owned by former Bistro New Albany co-proprietor Dave Himmel.

That's because Dave is having an official grand opening party and ribbon cutting from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. this evening.

As a reminder, Dave won’t be open for lunch today in preparation for this evening’s event, but regular business hours (Monday-Saturday, lunch and dinner) will begin on Tuesday.

As a recently minted board member of Develop New Albany, and as longtime co-owner of the New Albanian Brewing Company, I’m very happy to represent both my organizations at the ribbon cutting.

With relaxed sports bar ambience and casual dining in a historic building at 207/209 E Main (next to the Parthenon), Connor’s Place is the newest downtown New Albany drinking and dining entry. Dave has another knockout outdoor seating area to go along with the Bistro New Albany beautiful patio, and a fine draft lineup: NABC Community Dark and Elector, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA, Spaten Premium Lager, Franziskaner Hefe, and a sixth rotating choice. There’s also wine and full bar service.

Readers are invited to come down and see us on Monday night.

Saturday, May 05, 2007

Stop by Connor's Place on Saturday and check out NA's newest downtown business.

Exhausted proprietor Dave Himmel tells NAC that his Connor’s Place bar and eatery (207 E. Main Street, New Albany) has cleared all regulatory hurdles and will be open for “soft” business Saturday beginning around 11:00 a.m. Call for details at 812-944-0207.

It is located in the former Maytag Laundry building next to the Parthenon.


Please note that owing to the last minute delays and legalese, only a small selection of Dave’s anticipated food and drink choices will be available during the “soft” Saturday hours. NABC’s Elector and Community Dark are on tap, and will be joined by four as yet undetermined drafts (Franziskaner, et al) next week. For the time being, there’ll be pizza, appetizers beer and Dave’s gregarious personality.


See this previous posting for more details: Another new downtown New Albany beginning: Connor’s Place.

Friday, April 27, 2007

Good news in New Albany? Here’s some.

With the governor’s blessing, IU Southeast’s dorms are set for construction. Put simply, this is huge – and long overdue. Once the Purdue tech park is built on Charlestown Road, there'll be a buffer of higher education between the historic city center and the expanses of exurban TheGaryVille.

The state of Indiana has received two bids for the purchase of the Silvercrest complex. Can you say, “adaptive reuse?” If not, why?

Dave Himmel is set to open Connor’s Place on Main Street within the next week or two. You’re going to love the bar and interior design. The owners of the Speakeasy pub, restaurant and music venue downtown on State Street are looking at an early June opening, including a rumored appearance by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

Tonight at the Grand, the Floyd County Democratic Party will be holding its Jefferson - Jackson Dinner, with a tribute to Robert F. Kennedy and guest speaker Daniel Kalef, Vice President of Marketing and Development for the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville. It’s worth attending just to see which local party members won’t attend an event dedicated to a liberal.

Noteworthy absences will be recorded here. Stay tuned.

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Another new downtown beginning: Connor’s Place.

Former Bistro New Albany partner Dave Himmel tells NA Confidential that his new downtown eatery and watering hole, to be called Connor’s Place – named in honor of his infant son – has a projected opening date of May 1.

Connor’s Place will occupy ground floor space in the historic building that most readers know as the old Maytag Laundry, located adjacent to the Parthenon at 207 E. Main Street. Both buildings are owned by Third Century Services.

Interior remodeling has begun, and part of the lease package is an atmospheric back bar once housed around the corner at the New Albany Inn – now the Bistro New Albany.

Precise details are of course uncertain at this early date, but Dave tells us that he will be acquiring a three-way alcohol sales permit under the auspices of the riverfront development district, and the barroom itself will be on the right side (looking from the front) and separate from a dining area on the left. There is a roomy and shady patio to the rear, which will be accessible from the dining area.

Tentatively, Dave plans a full and varied lunch menu with pub grub in the evenings, and six beers on tap in addition to wine and liquor. He views the warm and historic ambience of the interior as appealing both to non-drinking diners and sports viewers seeking refreshment during prime events.

Connor’s Place stands to occupy another important niche in the growing portfolio of downtown New Albany’s expanding dining, drinking and entertainment options, which include the recently opened Treet’s Bakery Café and the forthcoming Speakeasy on State Street.

These are precisely the sort of developments that attract precisely the sort of people who are needed to fuel and sustain a renaissance, itself something that no longer can be doubted. NA Confidential will continue to chart these trends, and as we do, lift a Progressive Pint to Dave Himmel and these other pioneers downtown, and please support them with your patronage.

(Don’t forget Extreme Belgian at bNA on Monday, March 5)

Photo credit: Building view courtesy of Third Century Services.