Merchants Club Opening July 2023
The Party Source is thrilled to announce Merchants Club bar will be opening inside of the store in July 2023.
Merchants Club will pay homage to the original Merchants Club that was located on Fourth Street in Newport, KY in the 1950s. The first Merchants Club was part of the underground gambling scene in Newport, KY operating as a restaurant and casino. Although the new Merchants Club will not offer any sort of gambling or illegal activity, nods to the past can be found in the rich branding, well-made cocktails, and being the only club where everyone’s a member. Merchants Club will serve all varieties of alcohol, wine, and light bites, a change from the originally planned bourbon bar.
In January of 2022, The Party Source announced it was opening a bourbon bar in the vacant Braxton Labs space, however, the concept has since evolved into being a bar that serves all palates. “Bourbon, and bourbon bars are hot and trendy. But as that idea simmered out there with the public, we began to hear from our customers that in addition to a great selection of bourbon, they hoped for good selections of tequila, and single malts, and all the other things that The Party Source is known for,” says Jon Stiles, President & CEO of The Party Source. Although Merchants Club will have its own identity, branding, and tell its own story, the bar will cater to the everyday shoppers of The Party Source in addition to the rest of the public.
Serving beer, wine, spirits, and food, Merchants Club will have something for everyone, just like The Party Source. Guests will be able to enjoy their favorite classics and will also be encouraged to try something new. One way Merchants Club will execute this is with a variety of tasting flights. “One of our goals at Merchants Club is to help people find new favorites that they can buy in The Party Source. Merchants Club flight program is how we plan to accomplish this goal. We will be offering flights for whiskey, rum, gin, tequila, vodka, beer, and wine. These flights will rotate regularly offering incredible opportunities to try the products sold at The Party Source. We will have passports that you can get stamped every time you try a new flight. Over time we will start offering exclusive events for our passport members based on the number of stamps they have,” Merchants Club General Manager, Todd Roy said. In addition to this program, Roy and his team plan to offer a variety of events including private bourbon tastings, meet the distiller events, cocktail classes, certifications, wine tastings, and collaborations with popular Cincinnati industry members. The Party Source’s new resident kitchen, Renegade Grille, will be serving light bites as well as some of their more entrée-based classics. Guests will be able to order from Renegade Grille from their spot in the bar and tableside service will be provided.
Designed with Angie Sansalone and Rachael Kroth of Platte Architecture & Design, Merchants Club will consist of 3 different environments. The main bar will feature a 24-foot bar and a variety of table seating perfect for couples and small groups to eat and drink. The lounge space, which was previously the main brewing area of Braxton Labs, will have an industrial feel with soft seating and TVs as well as tables for some more structure. Merchants Club’s exterior space will consist of a covered patio and an uncovered patio for comfortable conversation and cocktails while enjoying the elements. Construction to bring the space to life is well underway with Jim Daniels and Maestro Development. The space is slated to be completed in July 2023 with a grand opening shortly after.
Stay up to date by following Merchants Club on social media @merchantsclubbar (Instagram), Merchants Club (Facebook), and online at www.merchantsclubbar.com.