The Bar & The Ceiling

What a week!



Everything is coming together...

The Amazing Soundproofing Green Glue




Jackson PAULlock applies the AmazingSoundProofingGreenGlue to the final layer of ceiling sheet rock.



John-E Pockets gives an ecstatic groan of pain, as he single-handedly lifts Brother Paul's masterpiece to the ceiling.



and the two work together like dancers in the sawdust...


And, in the biggest news of the year, the BAR IS FRAMED OUT!




Short of photoshopping these together in a montage-of-sorts, this is the best shot(s) of the entire framing of the bar.

It is long. It is plywood. It is beautiful...

Partnership

Though we haven't opened yet, something I do know about business is that partnerships take work. To be in a business partnership with others takes confidence, fearlessness, trust, selflessness, money and balls.

Our partners in The Richardson stopped by the space to see the progress, and they were damn impressed (as well as eager to get their faces on this site)!

Introductions...

So, WHO exactly are these people?...




Big KEV is the man with a level for eyeballs - Nothing happens without him... because he is awesome.




Cujo (aka Ryyyan) is his trusted confidant... he has rulers for fingers!!




John-E Pockets is in charge of much more than this trash can...




if you recall, he also helps BrotherPaul hold up the building!
They have both been in charge of putting up that ceiling, and that is a DAMN big job!




That is me, serving plates from the kitchen! (just getting ready)




This is Dudo! aka, THE dudo. Executive Chef. non paid title



There are more folks behind the scenes, but they move so damn fast...
i havent gotten any shots of them yet.
I will be sure to introduce them as I get photos of them...

One More Look.... at that SOFFIT!

Now things are coming together!
and those columns will be straight...

Look at that Soffit!

And soon enough those columns will be 'straight.'
check out the first layer of sheet rock going up on the ceiling, too... oh, yeah!

Seabreeze!...

...knows how to take charge. Here he illustrates:



Great job, Breeze.

So it leans a bit... BIG DEAL!

As the team continues to make the room STRAIGHT, it only accentuates how crooked the building is...


check out the plum line vs. the original building frame!!


Here is a shot of Paul, effortlessly holding the building up. Thanks, Paul.

January is AWESOME!

The crew has been trucking along so swiftly the past few weeks, the rapid change is quite arresting!


The chicago bar ceiling went up...



and walls are being framed...

first layerof ceiling going up...

and it is up!

WORK PERMITS!!

Up until now, we have been operating behind closed doors and tight lips.
But now, we are LEGAL!
Happy New Year!

Taking Shape

The asbestos is gone and the plans are in place.

Kevin is making the floors flatter...


...and Longer!

as we expand into the old loading area.

Today... We insulate.

That is a onesie over my onesie, as i prepare to insulate our ceiling.
Fun, Dirty and Itchy!

Tear Down the Wall!!

Before it was a warehouse, it was a liquor store. Before it was that liquor store, it was another liquor store. That liquor store was Mark Anthony's Liquors. Mark Anthony also owned the building at that time.
These days, Mark Anthony owns a building across the street, where he also lives. He seemed very excited to hear that we were opening a bar and restaurant in his former space (hopefully his tune wont change once we open).

Cujo takes down the wall

I wasn't there when he came by to tell the story, but, apparently, he bricked up our beautiful garage door by order of his wife, after he was robbed one too many times...


and now... the wall is GONE!

the room is bright

and the place is FULL of debris

Let the DEMOLITION begin!!

This week we begin DEMOLITION!!
Walls are coming down, and sledgehammers are swinging...





And how about this stairway to nowhere?! (found it behind a wall!)

Three proud parents

Inside Photos!

Here are some shots from the inside. It used to be a liquor store, with a loading area in the rear. For nearly the past decade it has remained shuttered, as a liquor store warehouse!
view from the front:

...and a view from the loading area

old liquor store security system???::

A Lease is Signed!

After more than one and a half years of real estate shopping...
WE HAVE SIGNED A LEASE!

oh yeah!