Lots of activity in Shrader Stables. Hmm, wonder what this means?

From 2005: Recapping the Historic District Building Tour and Field Day, Part 3: Shrader Stables.

From 2009: Resch to buy Shrader Stables property.

From 2012: NAX: Real estate dudes say, "Restaurant moving to new location."

NAX: Real estate dudes say, "Restaurant moving to new location."

(Ian confirmed this today and says a press release will be released next week)

Give the rumorama wheel a spin, and check the listing at LoopNet.

NA Exchange is given a stellar review in LEO.

There's fine ink for NA Exchange in the past week's LEO. It's located just down Plaza Drive from the Public House, and is a welcomed addition to "The Northside." Now, if we could just think of a snappier name for the neighborhood ...

Gastropubbing at NA Exchange, by Robin Garr (LEO Weekly)

On Tuesday evenings there’s generally a $2 special, recently taking the form of “Bells and Burgers,” with a draft beer selection from the excellent Bell’s Brewery of Kalamazoo, Mich., and a slightly downsized version of the Exchange burger going for $2 each. That was enough to bring us in. We immediately ordered two-buck glasses of hoppy, crisp Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale and examined the menus.

Subdivided into Starters, Salads, Light Fare and Specialties of the Chef, the evening bill of fare was substantial and varied, ranging from fairly traditional bar food to more upscale gastropub grub; but even the basics generally came with a tasty twist.

NA Exchange on the North Side opens tonight.

Previously, NAC let this particular cat out of the bag, but I'm compelled to point to NA Exchange and tout a second time for two reasons.

First, as a measure of how wonderful it is to have Dave Clancy back in New Albany, and optimistic that Ian's and Dave's establishment add to steadily improving dining choices in the area.

I'll come to the second in just a moment.

MYbar no more, NA Exchange opens tonight; Restaurant and pub retooled to offer high-quality food, by Daniel Suddeath (News & Tribune)

The night club concept of the former MYbar has been scrapped by owner Ian Hall in favor of a full-service restaurant that opens tonight at the same location.

Revamped to offer high-quality food along with entertainment, the bar and restaurant is now dubbed The NA Exchange. It’s tucked off Grant Line Road in a shopping center near The New Albanian Brewing Co. Pizzeria and Pub.

Hall said he considered moving his business downtown prior to closing MYbar about two weeks ago, but decided on restoring the existing property.

“At the end of the day, we just thought it made sense to stay here and try to develop this area,” Hall said.

I met with Ian in the run-up to NA Exchange's opening tonight, and we chatted briefly about the neighborhood, by which I mean the retail area in which we're both doing business. While it's true that the past few years have diverted my attention downtown, and downtown is a job not yet finished, it remains that NABC's plan all along has been to refurbish our original digs on Plaza Drive -- an effort now underway with the smoking rules change.

In short, all of us doing business in our Grant Line Road environs need to think of it as an entertainment/dining district. My personal shorthand to describe it is North Side, which is geographically apt, although I'm open to better ideas.

In the future, when our stretch of Grant Line Road is reconditioned by its new owner, the city of New Albany, it would be wonderful if sidewalks (scandalously neglected back in the 90's during a previous refitting) and pedestrian crossings would connect Famous Recipe/El Nopal with NA Exchange with the rest of us on Plaza Drive.

In fact, recognizing that while the entire corridor was constructed as an automotive conduit, but always has connected Indiana University Southeast with Sam Peden Community Park, there is a strong case to be made for making roughly two miles of it both pedestrian and bicycle friendly, enhancing the experience for visitors and residents with cars parked.

Is it asking too much for 2011 mayoral candidates to address this thought?

In closing: Best of luck to NA Exchange. See you when there's time, guys.

NA Exchange coming to MyBar space off Grant Line Road.

The basic facts: A new dining and drinking establishment will be opening soon just down the street from NABC's Pizzeria & Public House, at 3306 Plaza Drive, by the railroad track, clearly visible from Grant Line Road.

Ian Hall has closed MyBar, and feverishly is remodeling the space into a full servive restaurant to be called NA Exchange. For those of you who still regret the passing of Bistro New Albany, know that Ian's chef will be none other than Dave Clancy, returning to New Albany in a professional capacity for the first time since 2007.

This is great news for the Northside of town. Following are Chef Clancy's comments at the Louisville Restaurants Forum.

... We are in the process of re-tooling what used to be MyBar, right by Roger's digs. It will be a full service restaurant and bar featuring upscale but approachable cuisine (imagine BBC and Bank Street, and we fall in between that).

We are planning an extensive App/Bar menu and less entrees than at my old dive downtown with nothing over $20 but multiple micro brews (including a few of NABC's). What we are looking at doing is adding a nice dining option to that demographic just looking for a gnash or a full on dinner in a pub type atmosphere ... a "gastropub" of sorts. Projected opening is early January but you know as well as I that things often get derailed and postponed (I got hosed on many fronts opening my old place).

Regardless, this is the kind of project that I enjoy the most as it allows me to think outside the box and give folks what I believe they want and I know we can deliver. I think that Ian and I will make a great team, a great venue, and a great dining option for everyone! Thank you all for your support and wish us luck!