New Mt. Vernon Lounge E-Villa to open this Fall
Red Maple will have some competition this Fall. A new lounge is expected to open in Mt. Vernon in September, said its owner.
E-Villa, located at 917 Cathedral St., a block away from Red Maple and City Cafe, will be "a lounge with dancing," said owner Harold Edwards.
He said it's modeled after Washington's Marvin's.
The two-floor bar, which Edwards said holds around 150 people, will be open five times a week and have nightly DJs, or at least that's the plan so far.
It will also have a menu that's a combination of Latin and Ethiopian food.
The property, which Edwards said used to be a bar called Gaslight, has been in disrepair since the 80s. "Horrific" is how Edwards described it.
He said he bought it a couple of years ago, and has been slowly renovating it.
He's stripped the walls, and removed thousands of pounds of plaster and old wood. He also added some woodwork and polished the bar's arched doorways. Some of the architecture in place - like its two bars - is being refurbished.
The plan is to open the first weekend after Labor Day, Edwards said.
Some features are still in the works. For instance, he wants to add four draft lines. The cost of the menu has also not been set.
Edwards said prices for cocktails are expected to be around $10 and between $3-$5 for beers. During happy hour, he anticipates two-for-one cocktail specials.
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've always wondered - how/why do people pay the mortgage/taxes/insurance/renovation costs on a commercial space for years without deriving any income from that property? how is that an effective business plan? long-delayed restaurant/bar openings seem to be the norm in this town.
Posted by: dave | June 8, 2011 2:06 PM
There's more to be said about the real estate situation, you're pretty much way off dave- "since the 80's"? I did events and parties at this place as late as 2000. I remember the night Aaliyah died I got my DJ to switch the format to all her songs on notice. Wonder if it still has the chain pull above the toilet to flush.
Posted by: Tif | June 8, 2011 4:54 PM
Yes Yes Yes... this building has been used as a semi-legal venue on and off for years. I can verify that it is not in great shape, however.
Posted by: perkus | June 8, 2011 5:19 PM
At least it's sorta clustered around where the other clubs are mostly away from residents. The last thing we need is another loud club thumping music to unnecessary levels too late into the evening.
I think the clubs get away with being a bit raucous b/c there are almost no homeowners (just renters) on the surrounding blocks. I don't recall Fed Hill being as loud, or the Fells clubs back in the old days. I could be wrong. I'm more sensitive because I live nearby.
Posted by: Nate | June 8, 2011 8:51 PM
If the Cordish group can use one license for an area why couldn't the former owners (not a big fan) use it for one building, which technically it is as far as I know. At least that's what I was told when it was transferred/purchased. I was Paloma's on one side Wonderland on the other. Bands on one side DJ's on the other- same building.
Posted by: Tif | June 8, 2011 11:48 PM
Hey there is some nightlife news on this blog!
Posted by: Calvin | June 9, 2011 9:15 AM
If you don't like noise then don't live in the city!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 9, 2011 10:14 AM
You people are ridiculous going off about Nightlife, bars, and DuClaw beers while Rye-Rye's new single goes completely ignored. How do sleep at night?
Posted by: Foo | June 9, 2011 3:14 PM
Dave, Your event was definitely semi-legal at best in 2000. Palomas never got the permit to operate. Illegal as hell! hahahaha
Posted by: Anonymous | June 9, 2011 7:18 PM
That last comment about Palomas was meant for Tif!
Posted by: Anonymous | June 9, 2011 7:19 PM
how many fresh into town 20 something year olds care or check out the legalities of a club publicly in operation. I had weekly enents there for over a year. Worst I ever got was "no loitering on the stoop".
Posted by: Tif | June 10, 2011 3:05 AM
Indeed a very good read! Very informative post with pretty good insight on all aspects of the topic! Will keep visiting in future too!
Posted by: cheapcomputers | June 10, 2011 7:32 AM
Excuse me, but simply being in the City doesn't excuse noise making. The City is usually appers noisier because people are closer to one another. This is not license for people to cart blanch to produce more noise than they otherwise would because of their jurisdiction. Ignoring noise production lowers civility and respect for your neighbors. I reasonable medium can be had.
Posted by: Nate | June 10, 2011 11:53 AM
Tif, what was the venue name when you were doing your events? Just Curious.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 10, 2011 12:19 PM
"Wonderland" It had a roller coaster, water rides, balloon puppets- wait just a bar, dj booth and small dance floor
Posted by: Tif | June 10, 2011 6:11 PM
At E-Villa we will bring a quality lounge to Mt. Vernon. There are already quality lounges in Mt. Vernon: Brewers, Red Maple, City Cafe, Eden's Lounge, Grand Central, & Hippo. We are not competing with anyone. We are family here in Mt. Vernon. Our goal is to bring quality entertainment and help make Mt. Vernon a destination neighborhood for good entertainment as it already is. We love Baltimore and we just want to have fun!!!
Posted by: Harold | June 11, 2011 1:27 AM
Tif, that was funny. Never heard of it. Wish I would've heard of it. Sounds like it was fun. I did go to some illegal spot called Shhhhh! That was crazy.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 11, 2011 1:41 AM
@Anon- Shhh! sounds familiar- was it in the same place?
Posted by: Tif | June 14, 2011 1:33 AM
@Tif - This is the same place.
Posted by: Dave | June 14, 2011 12:13 PM
Yeah, I remember that. River was something else- waterbeds, mysterious white powder everywhere, sex on pool tables betwix any genders- pour your own beer from the taps after 3am, and leave into the sunlight. The windows were even painted black so if you didn't have a watch you had no clue what time it was. Venture back and forth from Shhhh! to Caligula thru the stairways- oh what a youth
Posted by: Tif | June 15, 2011 1:33 AM
@Tif Sounded like crazy times. Of course those days are over. We do plan to provide just a memorable times, but with a touch of class. Many people that come and I show the venue reminisce exactly the same way you did. I have heard a lot of stories. I think you will pleasantly surprised with the new venue. Follow us on twitter @_evilla.
Posted by: Harold | June 15, 2011 12:18 PM
@Harold- Of course I know how you do
Posted by: Tif | June 15, 2011 2:53 PM