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The Fishtank bar to close

Former Triple Crown Lounge owner opening new bar in spot

By Scott Sloan ssloan@herald-leader.com

The Fishtank bar on Euclid Avenue will close next month and be succeeded by a new bar from the owner of downtown's former Triple Crown Lounge.

The Fishtank's nine-year run is ending because of a liquor licensing issue related to owner John Tresaloni's new bar, Cosmic Charlie's, which is opening in the old Lynagh's music club space. He had applied for one of the city's three new liquor licenses made available earlier this year but wasn't chosen. Rather than serve only beer at Cosmic Charlie's, Tresaloni decided to transfer his liquor license from The Fishtank.

"I felt that since Cosmic Charlie's was a bigger commitment, I need to jump in with both feet instead of doing beer only at the bigger venue," he said.

Tresaloni said he considered selling only beer at The Fishtank, "but I don't think that would have been enough to keep the place open."

He said the move is almost like a graduation, considering the bigger space at Cosmic Charlie's.

"The Fishtank is small, and we have to turn people away sometimes. ... I wanted to do something that's a little bit bigger," he said. "Most bars around here don't last for nine years, so I felt we did a good job."

Tresaloni said his lease is up at the end of September, so the timing works well. Cosmic Charlie's, which he said will open near the beginning of September, will serve only beer that first month and then will begin selling liquor, too, once The Fishtank closes.

Opening in The Fishtank spot will be The Cathouse Music Club & Sports Bar.

Behind the new venture is Rich DePaso, who operated the Triple Crown Lounge before the building's owner sold it to pave way for the proposed CentrePointe development downtown.

DePaso said he plans to do some renovations to The Fishtank space, including adding a number of televisions to create "a neighborhood bar for everybody at campus to come watch the games."

The bar will have live music at night. DePaso said he and Tresaloni are talking about partnering to create what could be akin to a live-music district. Customers could pay for a bracelet and then walk to The Cathouse, Cosmic Charlie's or perhaps other area music venues.

DePaso expects to open The Cathouse just a few days after The Fishtank closes at the end of September.

"It's still going to be The Fishtank at heart," he said. "It's a bunch of local guys that are still opening bars and keeping the same feel."