Kerrytown's new 'neighborhood bar' to feature film screenings
Ted Kennedy and Eric Farrell are celebrating the grand opening of their new Kerrytown bar, The Bar at 327 Braun Court, tonight.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com
But owners Ted Kennedy and Eric Farrell have one goal: to be the neighborhood bar for people who live and work in downtown Ann Arbor’s Kerrytown area.
The bar, which they’re calling The Bar at 327 Braun Court, is across the courtyard from Siam Cuisine and aut BAR in a space once occupied by Fuji Restaurant. The building sat vacant for years after plans for a bakery fell through in 2008.
The building at 327 Braun Court was once Fuji Restaurant. It has sat vacant for several years.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com
“Our belief is the more things that are going on in this area the better,” Farrell said. “Kerrytown shuts down pretty early at night.”
“I think Braun Court is the single best outdoor space in Ann Arbor,” he continued.
The duo has two plans for the space: A screening room on the first floor for films and “alternative entertainment,” and a bar on the second floor with beer, wine, cocktails and snack food.
There have already been five or six film screenings since Kennedy started leasing the space in July 2010.
“I was having shows at my house, which is in Kerrytown, and I was getting noise violations and believed there was a need for an ongoing, experimental screening and performance venue,” Kennedy said.
That idea, he thought, would fit perfectly with a small bar.
“If it were my bar, it would be [Pabst Blue Ribbon] and Jameson [Whiskey] and that would be it,” he said. “But that didn’t really feel authentic.”
That’s where Farrell came into the picture, and the two collaborated to open the bar.
Although all the details aren’t set in stone, they hope to have two screenings a month at The Bar at 327 Braun Court, and focus the rest of their effort on the upstairs bar - which could eventually expand into the downstairs space.
The bar offers beer, wine, cocktails and snack food like a slice of Kentucky cured ham with cheese.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com
The two uses could go hand-in-hand, with people grabbing a drink before a screening and then going back to the upstairs bar afterward. Or the screenings could eventually take place only when the upstairs bar is closed.
"We want to see how people work in the space and how people use the space and let that dictate a lot of how we can use both the bar and the screening room," Kennedy said.
The bar is less than 1,000 square feet and has the capacity to fit 58 people, with room for 59 downstairs. There are currently eight employees working at the bar.
At two soft openings last week, The Bar at 327 Braun Court was packed to capacity and people had to be turned away at the door.
There’s a rotating tap and a couple dozen beer varieties all priced at $5. The bar’s cocktails are $9. Snack offerings include cheese spread, chips and salsa, a meat and cheese plate, sardines, marcona almonds and a hardboiled egg.
“It’s just a decent snack to tide you over a couple of hours before dinner,” Farrell said.
Aesthetically, the bar is dimly lit and utilizes candles, and there’s a “birch room” with wood covering the walls and handmade wood tables. It’s mostly decorated with personal items from the owners or their friends, including a painting of a friend, a deer head mount and a picture of John F. Kennedy.
“It’s all the stuff that we kind of either had or our friends had,” Kennedy said. “It’s a place we’d like to drink.”
“It’s a place where people in town on business sit next to hipsters sit next to the restaurant industry crowd after work, and they all enjoy a drink and all have something to talk about,” Farrell added.
Most importantly, he continued, “We want our customers to feel a sense of ownership over this.”
The Bar at 327 Braun Court celebrates its grand opening tonight. The bar will be open 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday - Saturday and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays.
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
snacks
Fri, Feb 3, 2012 : 1:01 p.m.
$9 dollar drinks and they call it a neighborhood bar maybe they have been drinking to much of there own brew. But, it's seems like an interesting place. So i'll have to mix my own from home and maybe have a glass of water at the bar.:))
Elizabeth Edwards
Mon, Dec 5, 2011 : 2:31 p.m.
My husband and I met friends here for one of the soft opens. Each couple spent $40+ on (quite modest) cocktails and snacks (chips & salsa, chips & pimento cheese). While I don't dispute bluetonguedlizard's calculations, I agree with the other commenters that this is a steep price for a place trying to situate itself as a neighborhood hangout. As a point of comparison, we had cocktails at a Michelin-starred restaurant in our soon-to-be neighborhood in Chicago - Logan Square - where I imagine real estate, taxes, utilities, and staff are at least marginally higher than in A2, even Kerrytown. The price of their house cocktails? $8.
AA
Fri, Dec 2, 2011 : 4:05 p.m.
Looks like young people running a bar as a hobby. $9 drinks? Seriously? Does not look like helping out the little guy in a rough economy.
ThisAintKyle
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:08 p.m.
Sounds great! Always happy to see a new place open up. As for the $9 cocktails, whatever. Booze is expensive, and you're going to pay for it. However, if you are dumb enough to try to go from a complete standstill to spinning drunk on $9 drinks every weekend your kids better plan on wearing hand-me-downs and eating cabbage soup for thanksgiving. Now, if you're smart you'll pre-drink a little, buy a cocktail when you arrive, maybe add some booze from your trusty flask... or step outside from time to time to have a smoke and a quick nip... and have a nice smile when you see the "$9 cocktails" sign hanging over the bar...
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:30 p.m.
You don't deserve a "buyback", especially from the owners.
ThisAintKyle
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:22 p.m.
@ThisAintKyle Actually I retract the part about adding booze to the drink - seems a little unseemly to me. But if you're really concerned about price, then how about scorekeepers? They have $1 long islands for god's sake! See my point? That's the beauty of a free country. If you don't like something, don't do it. $5 a beer is pretty standard - not gonna knock that. The Bar at 327 here I come!
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:03 p.m.
I couldn't resist digging a little... It looks like @Sara Murdock 'sold' this place to the bakery people for 390K (the people who owned Fuji sold it for almost twice what they apparently paid for it a mere 11 years earlier, good for them! ) Then they must have spent some bucks fixing it up...hmm...could it be that the landlords--now relocated to WA state it seems-- are charging more like real "downtown" prices for the lease that has only been 'supported by' 5 or 6 film screenings since 18 months ago?! That would explain the necessity of very pricey cocktails! If a small group of funky-cool screening alternative type folks are happy to make this their regular hangout, and thusly the $9 drinks are essentially a 'cover establishment's expenses' charge added-on, a kind of co-op, then that's one thing... And maybe that's sustainable indeed! It's just a space I'd wished would have been an actual wider-community resource and asset. It will be interesting to see how it goes...
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:14 p.m.
:-)
annie p
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:07 p.m.
what, no winky face on this one? ;-)
Peter Baker
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:16 p.m.
Everyone's always complaining about Ann Arbor's city council being anti-business. Sure feels like AnnArbor.com's commenting regulars are at least as much.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 9:05 p.m.
I'll take your word for it, but if he is thanking you for driving away business, he is in trouble already. You go anywhere you want, Peter, as will I. It just won't be there.
Peter Baker
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 8:34 p.m.
"I wonder if your friend Ted is aware of all the "help" you are giving him on the opening of his new bar?" He is, and thanked me. Their $5 beers are microbrews too. Stop jumping to conclusions. Also, I love Casey's, Frasier's and Old Town, and visit them all the time. Sometimes I want to go somewhere else. What's wrong with there being variety, even if some of it costs $2 more?
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:12 p.m.
I agree with @Peter Baker's observation... one great way for a restaurant to cover their rents these days is to make some big bucks off the cocktails! Isn't it?! Call them "specialized", include a relatively "premium" ingredient here or there ( as opposed to the nasty stuff that nobody could say was 'good' even with a couple under their belts ;-) ), and charge as much as an entree at a 'reasonably' priced restaurant. Voila! Just because it's common doesn't mean it's any fun. But like you said, to some, it must be. We're just sad to see more of it, I think, is all...
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:08 p.m.
No, not for me. Thanks for pointing that out for me. I wonder if your friend Ted is aware of all the "help" you are giving him on the opening of his new bar? Microbrews are typically more expensive than Pabst. That was the point. Sorry you missed it.
Peter Baker
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:56 p.m.
Looks, it's fine, the place isn't for you. There's a lot of those. It's ok. Let it go.
Peter Baker
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:56 p.m.
Old Town: Their beers are $4-5. Casey's: Also $4-5 beers. Grizzly Peaks: $4-5 beers, and they make it themselves. You're complaining about cocktail pricing, but keep bringing up beer bars. Point out some places with specialized cocktails menus if you want to compare. Ravens? Mani? Alley Bar? Babs? $10+ for their special cocktails.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:35 p.m.
Not anti business at all. Just anti-overpriced. Sorry that this simple detail seems to be hard for you to grasp. Yes, yes, I know, there is an answer for everything. "I said downtown", "yeah, well that downtown bar doesn't count" OK, lets add Old Town - I'm sure that won't count for some reason too. -too old? Caseys? - Doesn't count, used to be a lumber yard Grizzly Peaks - Cheaper for a pint of micro-brew than this place for a pint of Pabst. Don't count because they have "Grizzly" in the name perhaps? Perhaps if this place wants to last, they should listen to what some of their potential customers are saying, rather than dismissing them as "sassy". Yes, there is a reason some of these bars have been around awhile, I suspect it isn't due to $9 drinks.
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:41 p.m.
I for one, @Audion Man, would *love* for Ann Arbor to change...to stop being so 'pseudo' in so many ways, like thinking $9 cocktails goes with hipster-y alternative entertainment :-)
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:40 p.m.
And perhaps you'd prefer it if even commenting forums were run like some of the business 'press' these days? Magazines and blogs and alleged 'news' forums that don't disclose how they are essentially booster-services?! Do you get similarly unhappy about the "anti-business" vibe when it gets directed at CVSs, Grand Traverse Pie Companies, and Subways, or is it only when folks complain about $9 dollar cocktails at late-night cool-kid film-screening venues ;-)
Audion Man
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:39 p.m.
That is because most of the commenting regulars are in love with the idea of Ann Arbor as it existed at some point in the past, and never, ever, ever want it to change, or God Forbid, grow.
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:33 p.m.
oh please; maybe some of us just feel anti-business-as-usual, especially as they are marketed as 'doing things a little differently' :-)
puncturedtime
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:33 p.m.
People should check the place out before making all these judgments. Yes, $9 is a bit expensive for a cocktail, but if the vibe is cool and service is prompt, then it's worth it. My son and I attended last week's soft opening, and I was pleasantly surprised by the feel and atmosphere of the "bar." Wish I had something more concrete or descriptive to call it, but both of us plan to return in the future for sure.
superhappyfunbrett
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 2:25 p.m.
Personally, I think it'd be worth it to check the place out before making any final judgements. The concept and description sounds interesting, and I believe the owners have their hearts in the right place. I think it's wonderful news! But I understand the concerns about pricing. On the one hand, it IS downtown. And downtown area has pricer bars than rest of A2, which doesn't seem to be killing the established spots, or ones coming in new run by people veterans of the business. What I'm interested in with this said neighborhood bar is... Is it truly worth the pricing? Every bar around here that sticks around has a niche. Sports bar; tasty food bar; high quality ingredients and decor bar; cheaper drinks bar; entertainment bar; etc. I'm just wondering (and honestly hoping) that this bar has an idea of what they are aiming for. It's a great location, and if they have a plan, the people will come. I think SOME folks on here are just grumpy old people who want to complain about any and everything on the internet because they hate their life. :-) But I think some people have legit points. I'd tread carefully about pricing. If they are coming with amazingly crafted cocktails and word gets out that that is the major selling point of the place, then I could see it working. But I could easily see the place going under if everything is simply average. Like, something you could do with no brains at home, or - more importantly - spend the same amount, and get down the street in "cooler" spot. The pricing thing is just another way, if you were slightly lower, to get people in the door. It sounds like it's not the largest space in town, so I can see trying to get the most from each customer. But I agree that a happy hour would probably be helpful. (Once people get in a bar, and they've had a few, they are more likely to stay. lol And keep buying drinks. Even after happy hour.) To survive around here, you really have to find your niche and get word out FAST. GOOD LUCK GUY
Ronald K. Dankert
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 1:44 p.m.
Bluetonguelizard provides a welcome service--injecting some logic and insight in a sea of commentary. Thanks, BTL. Ron Dankert
sun runner
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 1:26 p.m.
Sheesh, people! If you don't want to pay $9 for a cocktail, then by all means, don't patronize the place if all you're going to do is whine and complain. If you have disposable income, are curious, and like drinks made with ingredients that you might not keep stocked in your home collection, then go ahead and drop some cash on a night out at this place. I fall into the latter category and am eager to make my first visit.
rusty shackelford
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:23 a.m.
I'm glad that all the people who are commenting just to say "I won't go there" won't go there. It's a small place and you all sound really obnoxious.
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:58 p.m.
Oh I am going to go all right. I want to see what a $9 pour looks like. I hope the jagermeister is kept in the freezer.
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:37 p.m.
Oh, I'd just *love* to hang out with you ;-)
Lemmy Caution
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:14 a.m.
Yeah, a happy hour would be great! You get the after-work/after-school crowd, they get happy with a few cheap ones, and buy appetizers at regular price, and then linger into full-pay time. I don't know if it works for them, but I love how the Blue Tractor really believes in Happy Hour and 1/2 price beer--so much so, that they have two happy hours, one in afternoon and one later at night.... I hope The Bar at Kerrytown considers that. Ooh, and they should play good music only, well-curated, and expertly presented on original vinyl for full analog experience. And they could have events with cool speakers and q/a. I remember a groovy big bar in Carboro, Chapel Hill, where a professor would talk about a public policy issue (the environment, taxation, regulations, post postmodernist aesthetics) and folks would come, drink, listen, ask questions, and just linger groovily. If that's the dreaded "hipster" ethic, sign me up.
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:41 p.m.
But then there wouldn't be the appeal for the "restaurant industry" and "business people" crowd lol. They come only for the $9 cocktails and the kentucky ham ;-) I agree though...*your* suggestions might work to create a place that's not like the others around here! While I don't think the music necessarily needs to be vinyl-only lol, well-curated would be good and so would happy hours and interesting speakers ;-) !
Patti Smith
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:39 a.m.
Sounds awesome--looking forward to seeing the AAFF films there!!
TFR
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 2:09 a.m.
I didn't see any comments about flat screen TV's for watching sports. This bar isn't like the Ault Bar, is it?? I would like to ahead of time instead of finding out the hard way.
Allison Kennedy
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:53 a.m.
(Just to clarify---there are no flat screen televisions from what I saw)
Tesla
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:03 a.m.
It's a legitimate question. and lol.
Peter Baker
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 2:16 a.m.
What exactly did you find out about the Aut Bar the "hard way"?
nowayjose
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 2:02 a.m.
What is "alternative entertainment"?
Lola
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:13 a.m.
Think alternative music but not limited to music. So yeah, weird entertainment.
bluetonguedlizard
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 1:36 a.m.
If $9 per cocktail seems high - let me break this down for you. Is it really cheaper to drink at home, the cost of the liquor is not the only thing you are paying for - at home or at a bar: let's assume the average mortgage is $1500 per month the breakdown is as follows: $2.50 per hour rent/mortgage - (and we all know rent for retail space is way higher than this in a2) $0.50 per hour utilities $12 per hour to wait and clean up after you (ok you may not have this at home but this is one of the pleasures of going out - you don't come home/wake up to dirty dishes). Yes I know they could be serving more folks than just you but you would pay WAY more to have a private drink mixer come to your house. $1.50 per Jameson 1.5 ounce serving (no mixer or ice!) $?? the cost of meeting great and interesting folks - priceless $?? the cost of a baby sitter if you have kids $?? insurance $?? repairs and maintenance Perhaps you think folks should work for nothing , cause do you work for free? this seems pretty darn reasonable. Oh and if you'd like me to review "having a drink at your house" just let me know as I am pretty certain the feel of the place would not compare to any bar in A2! Why do some of you folks in A2 have to be so darn nasty, folks are going out on a limb here and believe me none of them are putting money in the bank - infact the opposite they just want A2 to be a great place to live!
treetowncartel
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 4:11 p.m.
I got a tip, replace the milk or cream in a White Russian with Bailey's Irish Cream, pour the drink into a metal shaker, shake vigorously, and enjoy yourself a Bosco. Some of you may be old enough to get the reference to a long gone chocolate milk . Love, a well rounded mixologist. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OTKTK2u74o" rel='nofollow'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OTKTK2u74o</a>
say it plain
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 1:02 a.m.
*Sassy*, that might become my new favorite word. I think next time I don't like what someone is saying, I'm going to try that, I'm going to try accusing them of being *sassy*. And I might *italicize*, if I do it in writing lol. I'm happy to hear that even the hard-of-earning might frequent this happy cool no-discounts joint; all critiques of the model must then be abandoned, $9 fresh-cream white russians for all, and all for $9 fresh-cream white russians :-) but only if that's cream from non-RGBH treated cows thank you very much (we should make *some* attempt to distinguish Ann Arbor from similar but less well educated towns!)...
Allison Kennedy
Thu, Dec 1, 2011 : 12:39 a.m.
!!! YOU REALLY CHECKED OUT MY ACTIVITY? You did that? (This is kind of a compliment to Ann Arbor activeness) I mean, I've been regular commenter on AA.com for like two years (since the lovely Jeff Kass classroom blog)---except under a codename. When this article went up I decided to give up the name and just sign in with facebook --- "enough of the weird drama about names," I said. I'm obviously haven't been trying to trick anyone--I'm one of the only people using my real name---I'm surprised no one commented earlier, actually... ANYWAYS, I'm familiar with AA.com and mainly just how involved and interested and therefore sometimes intense and even harmful the commenting can get. I think defense is kind of necessary sometimes--- just to stir something and just add support to a side. This is a very wonderful article by Lizzy Alfs. Very informative, and in the fact that it was written supportive in letting others know about it. And, YES, I know Ted. We're related. I'm a fan. I love him dearly. (Whoa, I forgot this was a public place....)But I still don't think that's really why I'm saying these things. I've been. I liked it. I worked eleven hours today, earning about 7.50 hour and at the moment, I just kind of want to go to a comfortable place, you know? A lovely and happy... And so, I'm going to go to The Bar. And I might spend some bucks. Some DUCKETS, shall I say... And I definitely won't get any kind of discount. And I am so darn cool and happy with that. I'll give a tip. I'll prolly have a great conversation. And I'm prolly sharing a lil' too much right now, but, it's been a long day, and people are just being really sassy with the stars around the words and I'm just having a hard time understanding why. Discussion is awesome, but creating this many negative feelings around something aiming towards community and warmth that's JUST budding, trying to get on it's feet-is a little hard to witness without saying anything. I'm saying: I like it.You might too.W
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:57 p.m.
It has been a while, but the 8-ball used to have moderately priced cocktails back in the day, and this is rifght on the boarder of the village on Ann's Arbour. Are they really charging $5 for a PBR. I mean Schlitz is worth $5, but PBR?
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:57 p.m.
Lol about Squares... I never went there because it seemed such a silly corporate-baked idea to base a restaurant on the shape of the pita-bread or whatever it was they used for stacking on random ingredients, presumably also cut into squares?! I managed to miss its entire short run here, but there's no way I could imagine them being 'hipster' in any possible interpretation of that word ;-) Indeed, I can't even imagine a hipster-y type admitting to trying the place, except as an exercise in postmodern analysis of what passes for restaurant-concept marketing ;-)
Peter Baker
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:40 p.m.
Also, Square had "hipster dishes"? What exactly is a "hipster dish"? None of the hipsters I know ate there, their food sucked.
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:35 p.m.
I'm sorry I offended you, really... I *am*... I realize it's very expensive to run a place in this town, *too* expensive. The landlords/realtors get away with convincing people that the holders of land around here deserve to make much profit for their speculation ;-) I am *not* against the idea of having drinks at bars or eating out with friends. I just think the scene here in town has become ridiculously overpriced. I very much appreciate anybody trying to create reasonable options for intelligent interesting people to meet and hang out, and I agree the Braun Court is a great location ;-) I just don't think that charging so much money for cocktails helps out our Ann Arbor world much. It feels like just more of the same, despite whatever 'good' intentions the owners may have. I surely didn't believe that anybody was going to get wealthy off that charge, but rather that it reflects a ridiculous cost of doing business here and that it is *prohibitive* to anything but more of the same stuff we have already... Maybe this struggle is why the feel of places in this town is always so, so, hostile!? It's kinda hard to make your place 'a neighborhood bar' when a short night of hanging out would cost 40 bucks a person minimum, with merely a 'snack' to add to your couple cocktails. But hey, some people have very very high incomes I guess. Or don't care about their credit card balances I guess. These two might be related I guess ;-) Best of luck to the folks opening this place! I just wished it weren't prohibitively expensive as it sounds like it might be at least from the cocktails prices!
HerrSnibbens
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:33 p.m.
Frasers, AC Tap, Banfield's and Knights are all very old and very far from downtown. Some of those probably own their own buildings and have for ages. Apples and Oranges to a brand new establishment a stone's throw from downtown as far as costs of doing business. I am guessing the Arena gets by by being a bar which appeals to a very large and common denominator of the populace. I am trying to say it as nicely as I can.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 1:47 p.m.
Same last name...check Joined yesterday...check Only commented on this article...check Defends the pricing to the hilt...check naw, couldn't be, could it? Regardless, rent, wages and everything else does not determine the cost of an item. The marketplace does. Just like Squares on Liberty, with their quirky, hipster dishes and extravagant prices, this place won't be long for this world if they ignore the marketplace.
Lola
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 7:11 a.m.
Allison, are you related to Ted?
Allison Kennedy
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:51 a.m.
Tell us, Peter! Tell us how the Arena gets by! DEFEND YOURSELF! I'm sorry. It's just getting a little tense around here, maybe. It's a nice place. Great people. Open. Comfortable. Maybe just come and check it out and calm down a bit and... I dunno. I just really like it. That's mainly what I'm trying to say.
Peter Baker
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:42 a.m.
They can't all be The Arena.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:59 a.m.
Arena. The Arena
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:58 a.m.
Obviously not. How does the Area get by for half that? That's downtown, right? Regardless, the "analysis" didn't mention anything about being downtown.
Peter Baker
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:40 a.m.
"So how does Fraisers, AC tap, Banfield's, Knights etc., get by for half that?" By not being downtown, obviously.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:34 a.m.
So how does Fraisers, AC tap, Banfield's, Knights etc., get by for half that?
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 12:53 a.m.
I agree with folks about the obscenity of pretending to be a 'neighborhood' bar with $9 dollar cocktails. I don't drink away from home anymore lol, so I didn't realize that this was the 'going rate'?! Too bad they can't buck that trend, then, because otherwise it sounds interesting... I mean, if they can actually get a crowd that's different from the one already at Cafe Felix ;-)
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:58 p.m.
Oops, I meant to submit that last post as a reply to a different thread...sorry! Wish there were an edit/remove function here!
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:56 p.m.
Lol about Squares... I never went there because it seemed such a silly corporate-baked idea to base a restaurant on the shape of the pita-bread or whatever it was they used for stacking on random ingredients, presumably also cut into squares?! I managed to miss its entire short run here, but there's no way I could imagine them being 'hipster' in any possible interpretation of that word ;-) Indeed, I can't even imagine a hipster-y type admitting to trying the place, except as an exercise in postmodern analysis of what passes for restaurant-concept marketing ;-)
say it plain
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:18 p.m.
"Obscenity is kind of a big word for the situation" okay, lol, would 'ridiculous' be better?! But that takes away from what I wanted to convey, which is that the charging of $9 for a cocktail, with the profit-margin inherent to that, is part of the rather deep and large problems we have as a society ;-) (even if one argues that this pricing is necessary to pay for overhead, because, of course, that's part of the problem too!) The kinds or larger problems that truly are associated with 'obscenities' like --wait for it, because I really am going to tie overpriced cocktails to worldwide big problems lol--hunger and poverty. Yes, I will argue that being 'okay' with $9 cocktails at bars that pretend to be 'neighborhood hangouts' is deeply 'not okay' ;-) ... So, imo, the only pragmatically relevant question is whether I would be allowed to maintain such a position as I order something more reasonably priced (will there be such items?!) at this latest addition to Ann Arbor's 'cool' hangouts and watch the 'independent films' and edgy entertainment?! Or will that be taboo in a pseudo-arty nouveau bourgeois type of scene that this place would be? You know, with the hipsters and the businessfolks together chatting about the performance art? Will the cocktails have some sort of foodie-cache at that price point?! I'd imagine they'd have to if they were to generate hipster/restaurant-industry/business-dude cross-conversing ;-)
Allison Kennedy
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:36 a.m.
Obscenity is kind of big word for the situation.
yohan
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:39 a.m.
$9 per cocktail IS NOT the going rate. It is a HIGH price to pay for a ordinary drink. There are plenty of places in downtown AA, even on Main Street, where you can get a cocktail for $5.
Joe Wood
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 12:35 a.m.
Speaking of irony, The bar owner's name is Ted Kennedy?
hut hut
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 11:55 p.m.
Irony is dead. Film lives.
Halter
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 10:52 p.m.
I think this is a great compliment to Braun Court --- Between The Bar and Aut Bar, the outdoor courtyard, the theater space, Siam Cuisine, the bookshop -- this is a great place for this.... And what a great place to bring your neighborhood friends to show off a bit of our "diversity" -- and how it can exist next door to each other in a town like Ann Arbor... Good luck guys! Hope the place is a big success.
Tesla
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 12:26 a.m.
Seems to me like birds of a feather more than diversity. heh
itsjustacouch
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 10:47 p.m.
"Most importantly, he continued, 'We want our customers to feel a sense of ownership over this.'" I'd certainly feel like I should own part of the bar after paying $5 for a PBR and $9 for a Jameson and cola. (I'm half in jest here. I know those are pretty much the going rates. But I still find the bar concept a bit ridiculous.)
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:44 p.m.
Well, based on the qoute he said Pabst and jameson would be it. so one could infer that Eric allowed him those two choices but added more. Meaning, one could infer that if you bellied up the bar and ordered a shot of Jameson's and shell of Pabst it would come to total of $14.00.
E
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:39 a.m.
They don't actually serve PBR and Jameson - Ted said that's what they WOULD serve if it was just up to him. Thankfully Eric is involved hence the excellent cocktails!
justcurious
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 10:08 p.m.
Sounds like a comfortable place. I wish them luck.
treetowncartel
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 9:28 p.m.
Just curious what kind of film screenings these are going to be. any idea? Not to rain on a parade , but don't you have to comply with copyright laws if you are perhaps showing a movie like "Cool hand Luke"? I remember working at a bar and having ASVAB show up to see if we were playing music, I have to imagine the motion picture industry isn't much different than the music industry when it comes to getting their share.
treetowncartel
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 5:20 p.m.
Thanks for the info Peter.
Peter Baker
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 2:12 a.m.
They're showing experimental films, often from the Ann Arbor Film Fest, and sometimes with the artist there for Q&A. It's not just putting on a dvd at the bar.
Lionel Hutz
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 9:40 p.m.
Exactly. Leopold Bros used to publicly display copyrighted films in their bar. Eventually, they got a few nasty letters from some lawyers. Needless to say, Leopold's stopped the practice.
SaraMaddock
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 9:09 p.m.
I sold this in 2008 when it was Fuji and was so disappointed when the bakery didn't come together. I know those folks did a ton of work remodeling the place. I'm excited to see the latest transformation!
Scott
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 8:43 p.m.
$9 cocktails and hipsters? Don't we already have Cafe Felix for that crowd? Honestly though, it does sound like an interesting cool place and I hope it succeeds.
mr_annarbor
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 8:40 p.m.
Nine bucks does seem kind of steep for a "neighborhood" bar.
Mark Evans
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
Same price as Sava, Raven's Club, Mani, and others. I agree it seems steep, but it is the going rate for cocktails. Would probably be good to offer straight mixed drinks at a lower price. Beer is available for $5.
Allison Kennedy
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:48 a.m.
AND, running a lovely little bar is a terribly expensive gig to pull off. From what I hear, the bar currently is just trying to break even-- and also it's not as if this is a chain. Some might believe the experience and the community of this VERY LOCAL bar is worth it.
Peter Baker
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:30 a.m.
Depends on the neighborhood. Kerrytown is an expensive place to run a business.
treetowncartel
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 11:01 p.m.
Hence the reason "neighborhood " bar is in qoutes. I'm guessing you can get a two drinks for this price at places like Banfield's and the like.
Halter
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 10:53 p.m.
Actually -- it's not -- it's the going rate in downtown Ann Arbor, and any other larger metropolitan area...
catbehindthecouch
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 8:30 p.m.
I was all in until the $9 cocktails. No thanks, I avoid Main Street for a reason.
catbehindthecouch
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 6:44 p.m.
FYI I was comparing their prices with those found on Main Street.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 2:27 p.m.
Braun Court is not Main Street, just f.y.i.
Allison Kennedy
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 4:40 a.m.
There's quite a bit of sass revolving around this nine dollar cocktail issue... I mean, some real sass.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:31 a.m.
Seriously. If they have a half off happy hour, that would make them merely expensive.
Wolf's Bane
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.
Whooo-ooo and it is not Zingerman's.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:31 a.m.
Just has similar prices.
Ben Connor Barrie
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 7:15 p.m.
Some friends and I visited The Bar at 327 Braun Court for their "soft open" last Tuesday. We were generally pleased with the experience. Check out our article if you'd like: <a href="http://www.damnarbor.com/2011/11/bar-at-327-braun-court_29.html" rel='nofollow'>http://www.damnarbor.com/2011/11/bar-at-327-braun-court_29.html</a> Also, what do y'all think we should call it for short? Three-Two-Seven?
Allison Kennedy
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:41 a.m.
The front of the door says "Bar" I think it might be called "The Bar"
Ben Connor Barrie
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 8:04 p.m.
Thanks. I'm glad that you were able to get to the bottom of the wall decoration mystery.
Lizzy Alfs
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 7:18 p.m.
@Ben Connor Barrie: Thanks for the link to the review. I like the debate about the nickname.
smokeblwr
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 7:06 p.m.
Hipsters? No thanks. I don't do anything ironically.
rusty shackelford
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 11:24 a.m.
I only comment on the internet ironically.
Allison Kennedy
Wed, Nov 30, 2011 : 3:40 a.m.
I think hipsters was mentioned once in the article, and as an inclusive term. As a happy visitor of this bar who strives for the authentic and genuine, I suggest you go. It's a lovely place.
Thomas
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 7:52 p.m.
LOL, I thought the same thing when I read Pabst Blue Ribbon.
treetowncartel
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 7:01 p.m.
$9 for a cocktail? I hope they utilize the "buyback" at this prize.
caleb
Tue, Nov 29, 2011 : 6:52 p.m.
this sounds awesome