These days, it seems you either love Uptown or you hate it.
The dining destination is still home to cozy independents such as Lucia's and Barbette, but it's also a bastion of bro bars and retail chains.
Restaurant chains are taking a liking to the area, too -- Primebar opened in Calhoun Square last month and Bar Louie's debut is just around the corner. If you ask me, Uptown could use a good, homegrown neighborhood bar with a stellar craft beer list and locally sourced comfort food. Is that too much to ask?
Boom, prayers answered: The owners of Republic tell me they will open a second location of their acclaimed beer bar in Calhoun Square, with luck by November. Matty O'Reilly and Rick Guntzel have signed a lease for the second-level space that was home to the Independent.
The original Republic opened in May 2011 in the old Sgt. Preston's at Seven Corners. The pub made a quick name for itself by holding weekly craft beer events (beer school!) and expanding its tap beer portfolio to a whopping 56 drafts.
O'Reilly's Uptown plans call for a total remodeling of the Independent's sleeker, clubby space.
"It'll be very similar to the Seven Corners location -- we'll strip the space back to nothing, see what's there and then add what we need," he said.
He'll warm up the room by adding timber and brick. The biggest change will come to the Independent's shabby smoking porch. The underused space will be transformed into an extension of the interior bar with big windows and more seating.
