Don't Know Tavern manager takes over Boomer's on the Hill
The South Baltimore neighborhood bar Boomer's on the Hill is getting a face lift, courtesy of Don't Know Tavern manager Stephen "Pipes" Gronowski.
Gronowski, who is leasing the building, wants to make it a "cozy little brick oven-type deal," with exposed bricks, eight beers on tap and pizza, soups and sandwiches. He hopes to have it up and running sometime in the fall.
"Baby steps," he said. "We're opening it up some more. It's actually a pretty big place."
Gronowski doesn't have a name in mind, and is open to suggestions. Anybody got a good one? I hear "NADDs" is available ...
"It was like when you cut down a tree," he said.
Oh, and as for that nickname, it's actually not bar-related, Gronowski said. He played baseball in college (back when he weighed 155 pounds), and when he showed up for tryouts, someone said, 'Hey, check at the pipes on this guy.'
"It just kind of stuck," he said.
As someone who grew up being called "Sam I Am," I know just what you mean, Pipes. Thanks, Dr. Seuss.
(Baltimore Sun photo by Sam "I Am" Sessa)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Obviously it should be named Not Sure
May have to pay royalties to Idiocracy, though.
Posted by: JD | March 22, 2010 12:20 PM
Do you know if the brick oven will be wood-fired?
Posted by: BigPhilMD | March 22, 2010 2:57 PM
@BigPhil -- Baby steps. Like Pipes said, the place won't be open until the fall, at the earliest. It's too early for detailed questions.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | March 22, 2010 3:00 PM
@Phil- wood-fired was the plan until I talked to a fire inspector.....the potential risks involved in going with wood well outweighed the rewards. I'm really not in position to take those risks at this time. Maybe somewhere down the road.
Posted by: pipes | March 22, 2010 3:43 PM
Make it a BBQ place and call it Smokin' Pipes!
Posted by: Evan | March 22, 2010 4:00 PM
Good Luck Pipes,
That is a nice little spot right around the corner from where I live. I think the lack of kitchen caused Boomer's downfall
Posted by: Cody | March 22, 2010 5:32 PM
I live in the neighborhood and I am looking forward to another low key place that I can hang out with. This place will compliment Captain Harvey's and Idle Hour very well.
How about calling it Pipe's Dream! Haha!
Posted by: chris h. | March 23, 2010 5:46 PM
Back when I lived in Fed Hill we loved going to boomers.One of the nice escapes from the noisy and crowded bars on Cross. Plus it was only a short stumble across the park back to our house.
I forget her name but the bartender was so cool and was always great to us. I hope they keep the glass chiller thing that shot water into your glass before they poured you a beer.
Ahh makes me daydream about a Backfin and a shot of Jameson.
Posted by: Tyler | March 24, 2010 11:29 AM
I kind of like Boomers (although I never really understood the 'on the hill' part). Either way, it is time for a departure from the "____ ____?" name gimmick.
Posted by: Justin Wilkinson | March 25, 2010 12:20 PM
Apparently the place just opened a few days ago, called "Park Bench" or some such. Around the corner from our place, but haven't been in yet. Anybody been? Reviews?
Posted by: Nathan | November 17, 2010 10:27 PM
@Nathan- I was there the other night, very chilled and relaxing place. They have a couple of tv's and the place looks very nice. The owner, Steve, was there, and he said that they hope to have food, brick oven pizza, sometime early next year. It seems to be a nice little neighborhood bar at the end of the street. Definitely worth checking out but I will wait til they have food.
Posted by: neighbor | November 17, 2010 11:12 PM