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Tapas to replace paint brushes at one South Boston location
By adamg on Thu, 12/17/2015 - 2:46pm
The Boston Licensing Board today approved the transmogrification of Urban Art Bar, 709 E. Broadway, into a restaurant serving tapas and small-plate stuff.
As part of their purchase of the space and its beer-and-wine license, the new operators of the proposed Roza Lyons will rip out the art-studio area where patrons could sip wine while wielding paint brushes and replace it with a more traditional restaurant space that will be open until 1 a.m.
The move came over the objections of condo owners in the building that houses the place. They said a restaurant would mean more noise and violates the original zoning variances for the space, which called for an art bar, not a tapas restaurant. Also: Proposed new restrooms would violate the building's master deeds because the condo association has not approved it, a condo owner who attended the session told the board.
The mayor's office and the offices of city councilors Bill Linehan and Steve Murphy backed the changeover.
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Comments
What a shame
I was hoping it would be replaced by a cat cafe.
I can't imagine why anyone thought painting in a bar would be a long term successful business.
It's actually a pretty fun time
I've gone twice (you can only hang so many of your own amateur paintings on your wall), and it was full–and fun–both times.
This location, however, completely sucks to get to if you do a weeknight and don't live in the neighborhood. Maybe that was part of the problem? I'd be interested to know how the one on Newbury is doing, as well as the "traveling" ones that setup in existing bars.
I don't doubt it was a fun time
For those that like stuff like that. I just question the sustainability of business with such high start up costs to recoup that money. The liquor license alone is about $350K.
You yourself have gone twice. That is not enough to keep the business going. A bar or restaurant needs repeat business or it is going to fail. I just don't think there are enough people willing to go to a place like that every week.
A traveling one, a once a week or month gig in a regular restaurant makes a lot more sense to me.
Probably beer/wine, not a full license, so it
wouldn't cost that much.
Yep
Beer and wine, which I think goes for closer to $75,000 than $400,000.
I've been to the one on
I've been to the one on Newbury St. three times in the past few months with different friends. The mid-day class wasn't very crowded, but the evening classes were sold out with people on a waiting list. The beer and wine selection was actually pretty good and I'd guess most painters were getting at least 2 rounds.
Because MBTA workers need to get paid.
This area needs more high end establishments to generate tax revenue for MBTA workers.
Good
The dining options in the neighborhood could use some more variety, so this is a welcome addition.
Painting
Oh, I've painted myself into a tough corner a couple of times in my hometown bars…..
Missing Street Lights (known locally as "Street Fights") down at B & West Broadway
Paint places =
Fro-Yo.
The irony is that recently on uhub, I think Adam was saying fro-yo = Tapas.
The circle of life.
The circle of life.
Ask anyone
The biggest drawback to this location is the lack of parking. Unless the tapas crowd are on skateboards they will have the same fate.