Brewery opens second location with restaurant in empty downtown amid dining shutdown
In July 2019, the owners of Ethereal Brewing went out on a limb and bought a restaurant building downtown on a prime corner, planning to open a restaurant and microbrewery.
Earlier this month, Ethereal Brewing Public House launched, with food from Bazaar Eatery.
“It’s not quite how we drew it up,” said co-owner Andrew Bishop. “Having a grand opening during quarantine and stay-at-home order is tough, but we had to keep the show going.”
Luckily, many of the regulars from Ethereal’s main location on the Pepper Campus in the Distillery District on Manchester have been following along despite dine-in service no longer allowed due to the coronavirus. They’ve been supportive the first two weeks, Bishop said.
Partners from Gringos food truck joined with two employees from nearby Crank and Boom to form Bazaar Eatery, which specializes in street tacos, including some inventive vegetarian ones with falafal, and other bar food.
Even in an all-takeout environment has meant some changes, Ethereal Brewing Public House is able to offer libations.
The brewery can sell its own beer, brought over from Manchester for now, and has added bottled cocktails.
Working with Michael Florence, formerly with Middle Fork Kitchen Bar where he was in charge of the cocktail program, Ethereal has added two 12-ounce bottled cocktails.
“So far we’ve made a gin and tonic with a house-made tonic, and negroni and they’re both delicious,” Bishop said. They also have them at Ethereal Brewing at Pepper, he said, where they have to sell customers food. “so we bought some Lunchables.”
.JPG "LEX_200424etherealnewplaceas05 (1).JPG")
For now, Public House is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for takeout, and closed on Sunday.
Eventually we will be open seven days a week, Bishop said.
The location, which was a big draw because of all the potential foot traffic from two hotels and a major restaurant across the street, is now quiet with the pandemic shutdown in place.
But Bishop said they know the wait won’t be as long as the wait to see the City Center development come to fruition. What was once a pit in the middle of downtown is now a Marriott and a Residence Inn Extended Stay, with a Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse and a tower of offices. And eventually they will all be occupied again.
“The pit is filled in, and a decade’s worth of waiting had come to an end … and then this,” Bishop said.
Ethereal Brewing Public House
Where: 102 W. Vine St.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
Call: 859-368-0132
