Another Chippewa party bar is going the way of the dodo. Noir Ultra Lounge owner Justin Anderson tells me that he is in the process of transforming the establishment into a whiskey and bourbon bar that will also have a focus on local beers and spirits. After five years in business, the dated nightclub will shutter its doors, and reemerge as an Edison bulb and candle-lit, Ralph Lauren wall-paneled, drinking and dining establishment called Local Kitchen & Beer Bar. “I’m following suit with the rest of Chippewa,” Justin told me. “There was a time and place for Noir, but those days are over. Today I have a family and I’m not looking to operate a nightclub until 4am. Instead I will be reopening as a destination that is reminiscent of the old Crocodile Bar that once occupied this space, with live music on Fridays and weekends… a place where you might find a biker sitting next to a lawyer, both enjoying great food and drinks.”
Along with an old world mahogany bar and the dark wood accents, Local Kitchen & Beer Bar will incorporate some futuristic interactive bar and restaurant equipment into the formula. For example, the establishment will feature a digital tap system that will monitor the kegs as they are tapped and poured. A digital wall display, tied into both the tap system and the POS system, will allow customers to track the 50+ beer taps in “real time” as they ebb and flow throughout the bar. The bar will also incorporate a giant interactive TouchTunes jukebox. “These are things that haven’t been seen in Buffalo yet,” said Justin. “We want to add to the Chippewa scene, by creating a place for music lovers, beer aficionados, bourbon drinkers, and people who are into supporting the “local” movement. With so many breweries and distilleries coming online, it’s a great time to be in the Buffalo bar business.”
Local Kitchen & Beer Bar will also feature a lunch and dinner menu, though Justin is still working on that angle. He is looking to outsource the food to a third party at this point, but tells me that he wants the food to shine, rather than be an afterthought. We discussed a couple of different ideas that included NY Style Jewish Deli sandwiches, and/or a carving station behind the bar serving up freshly carved beef on wecks and turkey sandwiches. The verdict is still out as to what the final culinary formula will be. Suggestions are welcome – Justin is all ears at this point.
A vertical digital display will be adhered next to the entranceway of the building, which will signal the specials to passersby. There will also be two 60″ TVs inside for sports fans. Justin wants Local Kitchen & Beer Bar to a place where business people can get in and out quickly during lunch, without spending a lot of money. He also wants to bring back the rockin’ Friday Happy Hour, where people congregate to hear upbeat live music, while eating and drinking in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. “We’re right across the street from the new Uniland building that is under construction,” Justin told me. “In the summer we crank open the patio doors and we have an indoor-outdoor atmosphere that gives us a great street presence. I’m excited to see the new direction that Chippewa is heading, and I feel that we can all contribute to the different dynamic that is attracting new customers, who have not come around this part of the city for a long time.”
Only time will tell. Now that Chippewa has new banners, a host of successful dining establishments, and a new outlook on life, it’s only a matter of time before the pervasive (and sometimes problematic) party bar image begins to dissipate.
Local Kitchen & Beer Bar | 88 West Chippewa