Steinert's redevelopment fix tops an abbreviated Top Five most-read posts for November, 2019.

The timing of our trip to Europe, coupled with post-election regrouping and an accompanying contemplation regarding a possible move to anywhere in the fucking world except doltish New Gahania, suggests a quick compilation of top posts in November.

First, an honorable mention.

All hail the victorious drinkers of Gahan's Kool-Aid BUT let the record show that the pirate bested the copperhead.

And here they are, in ascending order.

NOVEMBER TOP FIVE

912

GREEN MOUSE SAYS: Is this the next public art installation in New Albany?

(December 7 update: I'm told it is. Follow-up coming)

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964

Indiana mayor, a Democrat, is arrested after an FBI investigation.

Did I mention the mayor in question is Dennis Tyler, the mayor of Muncie?

For all of those who have ever asked why some of us pose the questions we do, Muncie is the reason.

What's happening in Muncie could happen in any city in the state. All the potential moving parts for malfeasance are there, defined in terms of business as usual, behind the scenes and out of view; there's lots of money, and precious little transparency.

This is why a municipal habit of ignoring and obfuscating public information requests is worrisome.

Someone in Muncie wouldn't let it go, and the feds got involved.

Were it so, just a little bit closer to home.

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996

But wait -- I thought there aren't any homeless people in NA, much less a need to feed them.

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1,078

Reader differs with Team Gahan: "They're disrespectful of other peoples' time, dismissive, arrogant and secretive."

"I've also worked with other city administrations as a freelancer and it's easy to compare how others do it with TRANSPARENCY, versus how the Gahan team goes about things. We don't have the benefit of TRANSPARENCY, FAIRNESS, or RESPECT in our current administration, and I think we deserve better."

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1,844

The Tell-Tale Fart: This peachy "apartments at Steinert's" project may seem to be free-market capitalism, but the deal's a lot more tangled than it first appeared.

Our Shopping Cart Napoleon already had this Steinert's fix quite firmly into place. Before linking to the local chain newspaper's story, let's have a look at the interconnected participants.

Here's Vitor Bueno.

The Tell-Tale Fart: This peachy "apartments at Steinert's" project may seem to be free-market capitalism, but the deal's a lot more tangled than it first appeared.

I'd gently argue Steinert's was the building suited to be described as iconic in a way mere "used to be there" vacant lots cannot ever be, but this would be picking nits. It is noteworthy that in a distinctly post-election way, as soon as the campaign was over and the mayor safely re-enthroned, suddenly he has "elected" to refrain from interjecting his dull mug into every announcement.

The reality speaks differently.

Our Shopping Cart Napoleon already had this Steinert's fix quite firmly into place. Before linking to the local chain newspaper's story, let's have a look at the interconnected participants.

Here's Vitor Bueno.

TSI Construction was the contractor for the sewer overflow project by St. Mary's Cemetery at Charlestown Road and Silver Street, during which equipment and materials were being stored in ... a big vacant lot where Steinert's once stood.

TSI was purchased in 2016 by an "investment firm" -- 3 Crown Capital, the leadership of which all formerly worked for Neace Ventures.

The former Steinert's site is owned by a Neace offshoot (son).

And NB Develop, which will build apartments on the Steinert's site, stands for Neace Bueno.

Oh, and the Neace/Bueno has a connection with a newly elected at-large councilman.

Extol Magazine now operating under Neace Ventures.

(November, 2016)

John Neace was the first person to support our dream of starting Extol by becoming our initial investor. He and Vitor Bueno both jumped on ship as minority owners in this venture that was started by Sales Director/Managing Partner Jason Applegate and his wife Angie Fenton, Extol's editor in chief. We are so grateful for this opportunity to grow and further our mission.

Yes, and by the way ...

John Neace is Jeff Gahan's 5th-largest career campaign finance donor.

There was quite a lot left unsaid in the newspaper account, wasn't there?

Development coming to former Steinert's site in New Albany, by John Boyle (Bill Hanson's Jeffersonville First)

NEW ALBANY — An iconic New Albany property could soon see new life.

Steinert's Grill and Pub, located near the intersection of Silver Street and Charlestown Road, was a local landmark and watering hole for decades, with the building having been there since 1877. All of that history was lost over a decade ago, when the structure was destroyed in a 2008 fire.

In the years since, the property at 2239 Charlestown Road has sat vacant, with nothing but the Steinert's sign standing as a remnant among the empty asphalt. Now, developers have plans to fill the void with a $3.5 million, three-story apartment building.

Vitor Bueno said NB Develop set its eyes on the property in part due to its well-known former occupant.

"Steinert's has been a place that a lot of people have come through and have a lot of family memories at," he said. "I think that's a nice part of the site. With it being on top of a hill in a three-story building, people can have a nice view of New Albany."

Plans call for 24 units, half of which will have two bedrooms and two bathrooms and the other half having one bedroom and one bathroom. Units will range in size from 754 square feet to 1,131 square feet ...

Steinert's is said to be closing.

I'm told that Saturday will be the final business night for Steinert's, which will close up shop, and that Ric is gravitating to another project down Main Street way. That's all I know at the moment, other than to say I feel rotten for the loss of a civic institution, and everyone at NABC wishes Ric the very best in his next endeavor. If you know more, please feel free to post.

From headier times, two years ago: Steinert’s Bar and Grill reopens in downtown New Albany.

One bike leads to another.

The Bastille Day beer dinner at Bank Street Brewhouse last night was finished around 9:00 p.m., and as is my custom, I had a dessert beer after dessert.

It may have been two.

Both bicycle lights, front and back, were fully enabled before my pedaling away commenced just before ten. I crossed the Carnegie Center parking lot and made for 3rd Street, southbound, swinging a louie onto Market. Ahead I could see the barriers on 4th, and recalled that Steinert’s has been closing the street on Wednesdays, creating an outdoor party mall between Hugh E. Bir’s and Main Street.

Previously, I’d seen motorcycles lined up there, so I eased into the right lane to have a look, and just a split-second past Bir’s, there was movement to the side. I sensed the presence of someone standing there in the shadows, whom my quiet approach had startled, but he was entirely unfazed.

“Hey, it’s bike night,” came his voice from the gloaming.

Wit when your buzz is on … always appreciated.

Develop New Albany's annual meeting this Thursday, and "First Tuesday" at Steinert's on Feb. 2.

Tonight: Cigar Faction at Steinert's.

While not all intending to revisit old battlegrounds, it remains that as long as the absence of a smoking ordinance in New Albany continues to enable the proprietor's choice as it pertains to tobacco use at our food and drink establishments, there is an opportunity for those so desiring to serve as niche markets for metro Louisville cigar smokers.

We've started work on the patio at Bank Street Brewhouse to wrap it. Christo was unavailable, so we hired a contractor. Equipped with heaters, soon it will be a suitable area to enjoy a fine cigar. Of course, some pubs and restaurants still choose to allow smoking indoors.

In connection with beer, I wrote about cigars today in LEO: Mug Shots: Beers and cigars: I say puff away.

Like better beer, my cigar is a force that unites geography, history, agriculture and scientific progress, burning ever so slowly, emitting puffy smoke rings — the fruition of a long, patient process of growth, cultivation, harvesting, curing, hand rolling, packing and distribution.

Better yet, there's an opportunity tonight to patronize a downtown business, enjoy an adult beverage, and snip the end of a Dominican.

Cigar Faction - January 2010
@ Steinert’s Grill & Pub on Main Street in New Albany

Cigar Faction is looking for a places in Metro Louisville to enjoy cigars and craft beer. Steinert's Grill and Pub in downtown New Albany is one of them: Spacious, well-ventilated, a cigar-friendly staff, good food, good beer, and a well-stocked bar. NABC's Mt. Lee (California Common in the City of Angels) will be on tap, and J. Shepherd of Louisville will have cigars available for purchase with door prize drawings every half hour beginning at 6:30.

So, who's in? I should be there by 6:30 p.m., following the UEA board meeting, and am saving a wondeful Ashton for the occasion.

Open thread: Best appetizers in downtown NA?

I enjoyed a four-hour lunch at Steinert's Grill and Pub yesterday, and in keeping with my Thursday column theme of dissipation, elected to snack on appetizers so as not to deprive myself sufficient room for beer.

Previously, I'd been tipped off to the Sauerkraut Balls, and after Rick described them as tasting like a Reuben sandwich, there was no avoiding an order. It's an apt description. They're golf-ball-sized, filled with kraut and little morsels of corned beef, deep fried, and served with Thousand Island dressing for dipping.

We ended up talked about everything from the Russian language to how kids form allegiances to sports teams based on things like uniform color. There's simply no better time than a snow day to sit inside, smoke a cigar, drink good beer (New Belgium 2 Below, on draft) and enjoy good conversation.

It got me to thinking about appetizers and beer: What's the best appetizer being served at New Albany's downtown eating and drinking establishments?

Those Sauerkraut Balls need to be in the discussion, for sure.

A good thing: Steinert's is opening in downtown New Albany.

Every New Albanian has an opinion about Steinert's -- what it used to be, what it became, and whether it was good or bad. I won't kid you and say I went there often in more recent times, but there were periods in the "old days" when I was a regular.

My first experiences at the original location was in 1980 or thereabouts. It was what the Brits would call a "boozer," basic and catering to the shot and beer crowd.

The Steinert family then executed a power move of epic dimensions, closing for extensive remodeling circa 1983, and emerging a few months later with a barroom that looked more like Cheers than anything else ever seen hereabouts previously.

I remember seeing the dazed looks of the older regulars, who soon were supplanted by a new, young and freer spending crowd, which grew older with the reinvented business. Undoubtedly it was a sharp move to reinvent, and contributed to enhanced value when the business ultimately was sold by the family.

Remember this: You never stop reinventing your business, or yourself. If you do, you die. Steinert's is now reinvented for downtown New Albany, as the article below makes clear.

Some will scoff.

I don't.

This is an established local name moving from further outside the center into downtown. This is a very good thing for downtown, whatever the circumstances that brings Steinert's to within spitting distance of the Ohio. I just hope they'd like to sell locally brewed beer on draft ... but there's plenty of time for that.

Welcome to the 'hood, guys.

Steinert’s Bar and Grill reopens in downtown New Albany, by Daniel Suddeath (News and Tribune).

The first six months after Steinert’s Bar and Grill burned beyond repair, co-owner Rick Geoghegan was overwhelmed by the same questions.

When will the bar — which originated in 1877 and eventually located along Charlestown Road in New Albany before the May 2008 fire — reopen and where?

Geoghegan and business partner Jerry Roby won’t have to respond to those inquiries after Tuesday, when Steinert’s will celebrate a new beginning at the former Redman’s Club building, located at the intersection of East Main and Fourth streets.

Steinert's is no more.

As most New Albanians already know, a fire early Monday morning claimed the historic Steinert's Grill and Pub, which in its earlier and more respectable incarnations was a local landmark, having been established in the latter part of the 19th century.

The Tribune misses the scoop because of its Monday off day, but the newspaper has a brief on-line story and a few photos that were submitted by regular NAC reader and blogger John Alton.

The Courier-Journal offers this quickie:

Fire damages popular New Albany restaurant

Fire swept through Steinert's Grill & Pub in New Albany, Ind., around 4 a.m., causing heavy smoke and structural damage and taking 15 firefighters from the New Albany Fire Department an hour and a half to contain, according to New Albany police and fire communications.

There were no reported injuries, and the cause of the blaze was undetermined. The popular restaurant is in a two-story frame building at 2239 Charlestown Road.

All the reports coming in today indicate that the building is a total loss, and will be razed as soon as practicable.

Me? I hadn't been there in years and won't pretend that it was my kind of place since, I dunno, some time around 1983, but it was a slice of New Albany history … que sera sera, and all that. Hats off to a bit of history now passed.

But it just goes to show that bad karma really does last forever, and that estrogen-crazed bartender never should have kicked me out that night back in 1984 for playing with the salt shaker.