BEXLEY, Ohio (WCMH) – A moodier establishment is emerging among the ice cream shops and local eateries on Main Street in Bexley as a new cocktail bar plans to open next month.
Bexley residents Matt Eshelbrenner and Mike Davis co-own Bexley Hospitality, the company behind the new bar, located at 2511 E. Main St. The pair said they plan to offer cocktails, fine wines and craft beer, along with coffee options in the earlier hours of the day. They also plan to partner with local food trucks as well for a rotating menu.
“Since we both moved to Bexley, we’ve had countless conversations with friends about how there is nowhere in Bexley to go for a nightcap after dinner,” the pair said via email.
While the idea began as a solution to their perceived nightlife vacuum, the pair said they plan for the cocktail bar to extend beyond martinis or cosmopolitans. Eshelbrenner and Davis confirmed the shop will transition throughout the day to adjust to different community needs.
“We will be a coffee shop in the morning and a bar in the evening, and during the day, we’ll be a destination where you can schedule a networking meeting or come get some work done during lunch,” they said.
The establishment will also offer “unusually timed” sporting events, like European soccer or Formula 1 racing, to accommodate growing audiences for sports that may not be easily accessible to watch. Eshelbrenner and Davis further confirmed the place will have outlets and WiFi for customer use.
“Bexley is a family-friendly place, and our place is no exception, though at night, we’ll transition to a 21-plus atmosphere,” they said.
Currently, Bexley has seven restaurants that sell alcohol and are involved in the DORA set forth by the city in 2021. Davis said they are working to become the eighth DORA partner; however, the current DORA limits end right before their building, so they are discussing adaptations with the city.
Bexley's DORA limits and sinage (left), and its official DORA cups
Bexley’s Director of Administration and Development Megan Meyer said the vacancy the pair saw in Bexley’s nightlife is not the result of Bexley policies, which follow the same guidelines as the state in terms of liquor distribution and sales.
“I will say that it’s one of the city’s many development priorities to continue to attract restaurants to Bexley, something that we’re starting to see with the addition of Katalina’s,” she said,
Meyer also pointed to Giant Eagle renovations nearing completion, which she said will reopen its second-story bar and restaurant while adding a State of Ohio liquor store.
Davis and Eshelbrenner are contributing to this development with the cocktail bar, complete with a name that is under wraps until their soft opening, an investor-exclusive event. They said their investors are 30 Bexley families who the pair sought out to invest and offer input where they can. They did confirm the name will be a nod to the Bexley community, however.
Eshelbrenner and Davis are also working with a nationally recognized bartender to contribute to Bexley’s growing alcohol market. Dustin Ross, who was recently named one of “Diageo’s Top 100 Bartenders in the U.S.,” is their “Beverage Director.” Ross, who helped curate cocktail menus for Lindeys, Service Bar and No Soliciting, will help create a custom cocktail menu.
Their 21-and-up ambiance will also be set with different design elements, they said, creating an “elegant, moody and comfortable” spot.
Although the team is not yet ready to announce an official opening, they said the hope is to open in late August.
“We are excited to become part of the fabric of the city and be mentioned in the same breath as other institutions on Main Street or other high-end cocktail lounges in town,” they said.
