Catherine's Pub, the new Taps, listed for sale, renamed
Catherine's Pub, the new Taps, hasn't even opened yet, but it's already up for sale.
Has been for sale, actually, since November.
And it won't be called Catherine's Pub anymore, said property owner Chris Reda. Until someone buys it, it'll be known as Delia Foley's.
Judging from their actions, the new owners never intended to keep the two-story bar.
The bar at 1439 South Charles Street was Taps until Reda and Ropewalk Tavern's Marc MacFaul bought it in August for $450,000.
Two weeks ago they started to renovate it with the intention to re-open in January as Catherine's Pub.
That's still the plan, Reda said. But the owners have always had an eye on selling the nearly 5,000-square-foot property.
They started listing it on Craigslist just three months after they bought it.
And for an additional $75,000.
A reader noticed a post on Craigslist yesterday, but the Chris Reda Team had actually already listed it two other times, in November and early December.
The renovations to the bar also suggest the new owners are keen on making the property more attractive to prospective buyers. Reda has said these will be reserved to the exterior, plus some cosmetic changes to the inside.
The new price is $525,000, including the bar's liquor license.
But Reda said they're "not actively" selling the bar. "We would sell if someone was interested," he said Monday when I spoke with him.
He also said they changed the bar's name from Catherine's Pub to Delia Foley's.
The new place, being renovated in the picture on the right, is still scheduled to open in January, or perhaps by New Year's, Reda said. Gary Morse is leasing the bar for the time being.
Photo: Taps under renovation (Alexander Mitchell IV)
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
I don't understand why they would hire an artist to do murals on the outside of it when the buyer might end up disliking whatever theme they choose and have the whole thing painted over. Ideas??
Posted by: KGM80 | December 14, 2010 12:40 PM
I think it should be called "The Craftsmen Club" since it already says it on the building and has historical precedent. It's a bar for people who like well-crafted beers. They could specialize in microbrews and such (as opposed to the last business plan which was to mass sell macrobrews). The upstairs portion, which I believe can only really be used for private functions (?), could hold monthly "craftsmen" events where home brewers could share their crafts with other home brewers. There's issues with serving home brewed beer at a bar, but if it was an event hosted by an outside entity (even if that entity was still connected to the bar owner) it could probably work. It would be something different, anyway.
Posted by: FHT | December 15, 2010 8:26 AM
Every bar is for sale for the right price, there has to be some sort of deeper issue here. Conspiracy theory!
Posted by: LGood | December 15, 2010 9:09 AM
+1 on LGood. Doesn't make any sense.
Speaking of not making any sense...why the hell would someone not do a german beer hall there? keep 5 things on the menu, a bunch of big american beers, and 4 or 5 german beers on tap. The upstairs just screams it.
Nope, let's instead go with a concept that wasn't even cool when it was new in 1998 - The Irish Pub.
Bleh.
Posted by: BaltimoreLiquid | December 15, 2010 9:53 AM
I agree - how many irish pubs and sushi bars does this city need? German beer hall would rock.
Posted by: Richard | December 15, 2010 11:28 AM
@ BaltimoreLiquid:
Since when in hell was the Irish Pub a "new" concept in 1998?
Posted by: Alexander D. Mitchell IV | December 15, 2010 5:06 PM
@ FHT:
Since when can the upstairs only be used for private functions? Couldn't the owner just spruce it up a bit and open it up to the public, similar to maybe a Stalking Horse?
I've been up there several times and think it's got a lot of potential. Just a little work (and putting windows back in) and it could be a really nice, open area for those who want to dance. Live music? Why not?
Posted by: Matt | December 16, 2010 3:20 PM
@Matt: The upstairs has a legacy special event/catering license from back in the day.
Back in the day, well before Taps and Ft Charles Pub, the space functioned as a special event location--think somewhere between a VFW/Knights of Columbus and Michael's Eighth Avenue.
That special event license allows them to host live music provided it is a special event (e.g. band/dj at a wedding).
It's a fuzzy area, what is a special event and what isn't. You saw the Taps' owners attempt these special events with everything from DJ's to live music to comedy (if I'm not mistaken).
Posted by: Trouble | December 17, 2010 7:54 AM
Looks like all contruction and painting has stopped on the building. Guess they're abandoning the entire project.
Posted by: KGM80 | December 17, 2010 11:13 AM
Fort Charles Pub was a great bar with great bar food. Lousy beer selection, but an excellent place to have a burger and watch the O's lose.
I stopped into Taps early on and was appalled. Whoever that guy who owned it was told me that he was revamping the menu with the help of Steve Castro, and went on this rant about how filthy the kitchen was. My response was "but -- but -- that's why it was so good!"
I never went back.
Posted by: Jon Parker | December 18, 2010 12:00 PM
The original name was Bissarts Bar in the 40's & 50's. The upstairs was for special events, weddings etc. There was a special license for events and live enterteinment. By the way, this is the original Captain Larry. I'm moving to the Dominican Republic in April and opening up "Loco Larry's" Island Bar and Restaurant.
captainlarry64@yahoo.com
Posted by: Captain Larry Gross | December 18, 2010 8:20 PM
The original name was Bissarts Bar in the 40's & 50's. The upstairs was for special events, weddings etc. There was a special license for events and live enterteinment. By the way, this is the original Captain Larry. I'm moving to the Dominican Republic in April and opening up "Loco Larry's" Island Bar and Restaurant.
captainlarry64@yahoo.com
Posted by: Captain Larry Gross | December 18, 2010 8:23 PM
Where in the D.R. Captain? Just added another destination- I love the D.R.
Posted by: Tif | December 19, 2010 9:33 AM
can i join you in the DR captain and run your place? how do you open a place out of the country, I would love to leave the area, best of luck
JZ
Posted by: jason z | December 19, 2010 8:15 PM
@ Alexander, I should have said the concept was 'hot' in 1998. Yes, I am aware that Irish pubs existed in the Irish countryside long before 1998.
$500K buildouts for them in yuppified areas with a few pieces of furniture that were imported from Ireland, smarmy bartenders and overpriced Harp became chic at that time.
Personally, they can keep their busted-ass bangers and mash and frozen shepherd's pies.
Posted by: FrankieSez | December 21, 2010 9:19 AM
they are back working on Taps again, I would like to think that it is going to open under that management that is in place now.
Posted by: anon;) | December 23, 2010 3:28 PM