The Side Bar, a new bar located at 24 ½ E State St, opened in June. The bar renovated the space, formerly Zoe Fine Dining, to include comfortable seating and eclectic design, along with a stage for live music and a cupboard filled with board games.
Brendon Riley, a senior majoring in psychology, works at Side Bar as a bartender. Riley said the bar typically plays indie and alternative rock music during their business hours and the setting appeals to all age demographics.
“We definitely appeal to ideas that appeal to everyone,” Riley said. “We have games, and people come in and just play, but we’re also not looking for people to come in here acting like fools.”
According to Riley, many performances and events including bands, drag shows, disco nights and folk music, have already graced the space with local talent. One folk duo, Fine Business, performs regularly at Side Bar on Tuesday nights from 7-9 p.m. The band consists of local musicians John Wetzel and Angela Opell.
According to Wetzel, Fine Business first started playing at Side Bar right when they opened at the end of June. Before then, they have played at a lot of local spots including Devil’s Kettle, Tony’s Bar, Casa Nueva, Hideaway Hills and Angela’s hometown in Kentucky. The band has played at Casa Nueva’s open stage on Wednesday nights frequently and also where the two first met.
“I said, ‘I play guitar and we should jam together,’ and she said, ‘Well, here’s a Bobby Gentry song, you know, if you want to try learning this,’” said Wetzel, telling the story of their meet cute.
They have now been together for five and a half years, according to Wetzel.
“I had always dreamed about having a duo with my partner,” Opell said. “... I had always imagined that sort of thing, and it’s really nice.”
Fine Business mostly performs covers with their acoustic, folk style. One song Wetzel shared enjoyment in playing is called “Another Fool’s Cafe,” in honor of the history of The Side Bar’s location in Athens.
“It was written about this place,” Wetzel said. “We’re not totally sure whether the song came first or the name of the place came first, but at one time, this space here was called Another Fool’s Cafe.”
Both Wetzel and Opell describe the typical crowd in The Side Bar as a range of locals and undergrads. Wetzel shared his observance of seeing mostly people in their 30s and 40s, but waves of recent groups of undergrads as well. Opell, who studied music in the past, explained her hopes to see fine arts students in the crowd.
“I am a school of music person, and I would love it if fine arts students would come out more and see what performing out in the world looks like,” Opell said.
Riley also describes the crowd to be older but with a mix of demographics. Overall, the customers hope to find something new at the new bar.
“I’ve seen a lot of the older crowd, like all of the locals, as well as some younger people. It seems like they’re looking for a different kind of beat than some of the other bars.” Riley said.
The seating and design of Side Bar created a comfortable atmosphere and social setting, according to Wetzel, in addition to the menu.
“There are places in Athens where I never can find a comfortable seat, and then there’s this place,” said Wetzel. “There are all kinds of little cubby holes with couches and, you know, comfortable, easy chairs and bar stools. It’s a comfortable place and the food is great.”
Side Bar offers a smaller menu with frequent new features such as veggie pesto pasta which is $16, summer salads or Nepali Momo dumplings which cost $15. Shareable dishes remain under $20 and also have an option to customize a charcuterie board, where the price may vary. Their social media also showcases beautiful displays of cupcakes and desserts, and according to Riley, the kitchen continues to make and serve desserts even after it closes at 9 p.m.
“They’re trying to really focus, like, do a few things and do them really well, instead of trying to have a massive menu,” Wetzel said.
The Side Bar is open from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, and it’s kitchen is open from 4-9 p.m. It offers featured drinks, specials and discounted nights. More information and events can be found on Instagram or Facebook.
