By: Deborah Johnson Wood
Tami VandenBerg, 32, and her brother Jeff, 36, have been part of the GR scene for years—she as a founder of the Eastown Bizarre Bazaar, chairperson of the Eastown StreetFair, and board member of the Eastown Community Association; and he as an artist, the founder and owner of Friction Records, and founder of the Division Avenue Arts Cooperative.
Now they've become business partners, and are in the midst of transforming the former Two Stans Bar at 1005 Wealthy SE into The Meanwhile Bar.
It's been a lengthy project: five years ago they bought the building, it needed more work than they thought, and if they renovated they wouldn't have enough money left to open the business. Enter Bear Manor Properties, who, at the VandenBerg's urging, bought the building and began renovations last fall.
"We expect to move in mid-to-late April and begin adding the things for the bar," Tami said. "We'll install the bar and booths, build the walk-in cooler, build the beer garden out back, and put in flooring and lighting."
A secluded 25-foot by 30-foot patio will be created in back of the building using salvaged bricks. Tami plans to transplant hops and grapes from her Eastown yard. Inside, the space will seat about 100, the décor will be Art Deco, and a jukebox will provide the background music.
While all types of beverages will be on hand, the only food will be snacks.
"We'll encourage folks to bring food in from the surrounding businesses to support what's already in the neighborhood," Tami said. "There's already a lot of great restaurants here."
The siblings are shooting for a late summer opening. Will they have a Grand Opening?
"Oh yes!" Tami said. "We've been working for five-plus years on this, so we're planning a weekend-long opening event."
Source: Tami VandenBerg, The Meanwhile Bar www.myspace.com/meanwhilebar
www.bearmanorproperties.com
Photograph by Brian Kelly
Deborah Johnson Wood is the Development News Editor for Rapid Growth. She can be reached at [email protected].
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