Yesterday, Maplewood bar and grill The Crow’s Nest took to social media to share the news that the concept will soon expand its location at 7336 Manchester Road. While the Facebook post only shared a few details about the planned expansion into the vacant space adjacent to the eatery, such as the space will house a second bar and arcade games, along with offering snack food, in a phone interview with Sauce, co-owner Eliza Coriell shared further details.
The extended area, which Coriell said she and her team refer to as “the game room,” will be roughly the same size as the current interior of The Crow’s Nest, which is about 1,500 square feet. Although the expansion won’t include adding to the establishment’s kitchen, an additional bar and restrooms will be included in the added space.
Construction has recently started and some details are still being finalized, but the expanded area will house close to 20 games, which will range from skeeball, shuffle board and pinball machines, to a claw-style machine and around 10 arcade-style games.
Guests can expect the same cocktail list that’s offered in the main space and at the patio bar, but the new bar won’t offer beer on draft, however, guests can order it from the main bar and take it into the gaming area. In terms of food, the menu is still in the developing stages, but since the establishment’s current kitchen isn’t equipped to handle more volume, the food selections in the game area will differ from what’s available in the main restaurant area. Instead, the gaming room’s menu will be focused on snacks like nachos and hot dogs.
“It will be similar to what you’d find in an ’80s arcade,” Coriell said of the food offerings.
Additional details, such as hours of operation for the gaming area are still under consideration, but Coriell anticipates the area operating from mid-afternoon onward during the week and on weekends. Expanding into the space is something the team has considered for a while, and over the years, the adjacent area has been home to several tenants, but when Maven Apothecary relocated to the Hill earlier this fall, the bar’s ownership decided it was time to make the move.
Although there’s not a firm timeline for opening just yet, the team is hopeful that the new space will open some time in early spring. When the construction is complete, the expanded area will feature The Crow’s Nest’s signature kitschy decor and tongue-in-cheek branding. And with the establishment’s website tagline inviting people to visit and “come see what everyone’s complaining about,” the team is already thinking about ways to integrate the gaming area into the bar’s slogan.
“We’re probably going to have new T-shirts made up that say something new to complain about,” she joked.
This article appears in November 2024.