One year ago, business partners Stephen Savage, Lou Groff and Jared Ater opened upscale sports bar The Wheelhouse in Clayton (pictured). Today, the trio announced plans to open a second location downtown in the Cupples 8 building at 1000 Spruce St., in early July.
Unlike its sister restaurant, the downtown location will not be just a sports bar and restaurant. Rather, it will be a fusion of sports bar and nightclub, open until 3 a.m. The 10,000 square-foot space will feature three bars, a mezzanine with private VIP booths, a disc jockey’s crow’s nest, plenty of TVs for sports watching, as well as outdoor seating. “It will be a great social, high-energy venue,” said Savage.
The food menu, developed by chef Nick Del Gaiso, will be identical to the menu at the Clayton location, and the bars will feature local craft beers as well as established brews.
Local firms SPACE Architecture, ICS Construction and Mwanzi will all have a hand in transforming the space, formerly occupied by advertising agency Osborn Barr.
– photo by Michelle Volansky
This article appears in Guide to Beer 2014.