Rafters, renamed Barfly's Pub, to open within two months
Rafters, the South Baltimore bar famous for its formstone facade and interiors, will re-open within two months, new owner Michael Leeds said.
It will then be called Barfly's Pub.
Leeds is planning on a full renovation, and a big wine list.
The new bar, he said, will be "an upscale dive bar. "That's why I named it Barfly's."
Leeds started leasing the in November, and is now in the process of renovating the space and acquiring the liquor license.
After Rafters closed in August, it was supposed to have been taken over by a Red Hill Tavern. But that deal never came to fruition, Leeds said.
A former partner at the Federal Hill and Bel Air Sean Bolans, Leeds had been looking for a place of his own.
He settled on Rafters because he said he sees a future in its location - the Fort Avenue-Riverside neighborhood.
He started the renovation with a couple of friends a month ago, and he suspects it's going to take some time. "We could be open by the end of February, but more realistically early March," he said.
Rafters, he said, needed a "face lift." He'll redo the bathrooms, add new light fixtures, resurface the bar, and perhaps, most surprisingly, cover up some of the formstone the former owners were so proud of.
The old Rafters, he said, had a "unique" interior. He wants the new place to look different, but retain a reminder of the old tenants.
"A lot of people make a big deal out of the formstone so I want to keep some of it," he said, adding, however, "it's going to look a lot different."
He'll also expand its beer and wine selection.
The old Rafters used to serve "Buggy Bombs," its own version of Irish car bombs. Leeds said he'll install eight taps, and carry about 40 wines, to be sold $8-10 by the glass, and $30 by the bottle., between 8 and 10 by the glass, and 30 by the bottle.*
Photo: Rafters in 2005 (Elizabeth Malby/Baltimore Sun)
*Post updated for clarification
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 would like to make one small correction to article. The part about the wine should state 8-10 wines by the glass and 30 by the bottle. The prices will be very reasonable
Posted by: Michael L | January 14, 2011 9:44 AM
Is it pronounced "Bar-Fly's" or "Barf-Lee's?" I prefer the latter. Reminds me of Spaceballs.
Posted by: BA | January 14, 2011 10:20 AM
"Upscale dive" is a lovely oxymoron.
Posted by: Cheap Jim | January 14, 2011 10:54 AM
In addition to Buggy Bombs...they used to have "Trash Cans" and "Rafter's Disaasters" too. At least I think they did. My memory usually got a bit fuzzy afterwards though...
Posted by: TheBeav | January 14, 2011 12:52 PM
Can't wait to see the place! Official open date yet?
Posted by: JimH | January 19, 2011 8:25 AM
this place is going to be awesome!!! can't wait until opens. MIKE LEEDS is always involved in great bars
Posted by: vernon treuth | May 17, 2011 6:20 PM