After sitting empty for one and a half years, 2000 sq,’ of the former 4000 sq.’ WitzEnd comedy club space will be back in working order. Scott Hartung will be the operator of what will soon be called Venue. Venue will be a martini and wine bar that will play off of the existing West Chippewa clientele. That block already has a number of draws, including Papaya and the Chocolate Bar, that have been successful in capturing an ‘older’ demographic… and Venue plans on building upon that scene.
Scott plans on opening Venue for much longer hours than the traditional clubs, which tend to operate solely in at night. He is in the process of building a new kitchen, but has not yet decided what the menu will be. He is also securing patio permits so that Venue can offer a continuation of the nearby patio phenomena (Bada Bing, Papaya, Chocolate Bar, Salsarita’s). The interior layout will consist of a front room featuring a bar and tables, and a backroom that will function as a banquet room, an additional booth-style seating area, and a video projection sports gallery. “This place already has great bones,” Scott told me. “There are high ceilings and plenty of windows. We’re planning on installing large chalkboards where we can list the beer and wine selections. We also want to offer our patrons the extras that you normally don’t get at a bar. For example, when you order a martini we’ll give you the martini and the shaker so that nothing is wasted. You can top off your martini at the bar if you like. We’re hoping to be open in less than a month’s time.”
For those of you who still picture Chippewa as a place for the younger partiers, Chippewa West is working on bringing in a different crowd. When Venue cranks open its doors, patio-hoppers will be able jump back and forth between a host of destinations.
Venue will soon open at 117 W Chippewa in Buffalo
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