The second of three new bars to open in downtown Kent's new redevelopment space has plans for an outdoor, enclosed patio.
Bar 145, based in Toledo, plans to build an enclosed patio space at its location on Erie Street at the northeast corner of the new AMETEK building.
Jeremy Fitzgerald, owner of Bar 145, presented plans for the enclosed patio to the Kent Architectural Review Board Tuesday.
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Fitzgerald said original plans for the Kent location, the second Bar 145, did not include a patio.
"And then we saw Panini's," he said.
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Fitzgerald was referring to the outdoor bar and patio area Panini's incorporated into its 7,000 square feet of space anchoring the new Davey Tree building at the corner of South Water Street and Haymaker Parkway. Both the Davey Tree and AMETEK buildings were built by Cleveland developer Fairmount Properties.
Norman Elbin, director of tenant coordination for Fairmount Properties, said that like Panini's Bar 145 wants to have an outdoor space that can be used all year.
"And we encourage it," Elbin said.
The space will incorporate another element found downtown. Like one found at Tree City Coffee, overhead glass garage doors that can be opened and closed during the warmer months will enclose the bar's patio.
The new patio space will be on the corner of the AMETEK building closest to Laziza, the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center and Fairmount's Building C.
Members of the Kent architecture board hashed out details of the design of the patio's exterior on Tuesday with Fitzgerald, Elbin and the project contractor. The architecture board tabled their vote on the proposal until resubmitted plans incorporate the minor changes discussed.
The patio will go to the Kent Planning Commission for a vote in January. The actual bar itself, and not the patio, is expected to open in the second week of January.
Kent Architectural Review Board member Doug Fuller said Bar 145 seems to be more of a student-oriented bar than some other bar and grills in Kent.
"And I'm happy to see that," he said.
But Fitzgerald said they don't cater only to students.
"At 10, 11 o'clock we switch over to the younger crowds with the bands," Fitzgerald said. "But we don't cater exclusively to students. It's the one place you could bring your kids and both of you would run into people you know."
In July, Fitzgerald told the Toledo Blade he plans to franchise the restaurant across the U.S.
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