by Michael Monks
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THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
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EXCLUSIVE
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| The phoenix will feature prominently at the new Pike Street Lounge |
The manager of Renaissance Covington, the organization charged with promoting and cheerleading for Downtown, is tasked with serving as a point person for prospective businesses. Next month, however, Katie Meyer will be taking her responsibility a step further by opening her own business, a bar and coffee shop hybrid dubbed Pike Street Lounge. "We saw something missing in the bar scene which is a space that's not only a place for social gathering but also promotes creativity and community," Meyer said.
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| Walls are painted and furniture is being reupholstered |
|The space was formerly occupied by Blue Bar which closed last year and though an exact opening date is not set, Pike Street Lounge will open before Saint Patrick's Day, Meyer said. In opening her own business Meyer needed a little help from more than just friends who were busy Saturday painting, cleaning, and sprucing up the joint. Her father, Joe Meyer, the Education & Workforce Development secretary in Governor Beshear's administration, owns the building. Her brother Jon Meyer, manager of the LaRosa's on Madison Avenue is one of three partners (the other, in addition to Katie, is Covington artist Bret Schulte). Another brother in New York City is building the lounge's sign. And the coffee/bar hybrid concept was her mother's idea.
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| Local artist Bret Schulte, a partner at Pike Street Lounge, paints the exterior |
"She read in a magazine that that's what was happening in London, a lot of pubs struggling to stay afloat were adding a coffee element," Meyer said. Pike Street Lounge will be open seven days a week from 8:00AM to 1:00AM. It will feature a DJ on Tuesdays and live music on Fridays and possibly karaoke and trivia nights in the future. Its opening is a boost for one of Covington's most highly trafficked streets and its logo is symbolic of Covington's resurgence. "(The phoenix) is symbolic of a revitalization and bringing Pike Street out of the ashes," Meyer said. The logo was also inspired by the phoenix on the Artworks mural at 7th & Washington Streets.
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In order to make Pike Street Lounge work in a place where others have failed, branding and marketing will be key, Meyer said. "We have a target marget and we're building our space to accommodate that," she said. "We're smoke-free, everything is local, we'll have four local beers, and we're working with and engaging the community. We're branding ourselves as a creative destination for like-minded people who want to make a difference." Meyer added that the space will be available for organizations and non-profits to host meetings at no charge on a first come, first served basis.
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In order to make Pike Street Lounge work in a place where others have failed, branding and marketing will be key, Meyer said. "We have a target marget and we're building our space to accommodate that," she said. "We're smoke-free, everything is local, we'll have four local beers, and we're working with and engaging the community. We're branding ourselves as a creative destination for like-minded people who want to make a difference." Meyer added that the space will be available for organizations and non-profits to host meetings at no charge on a first come, first served basis.
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MENU: Pike Street Lounge will specialize in coffee cocktails and will also serve traditional coffee drinks. As for food, expect to see Yankee Doodle Deli pretzels, Dean's Nuts from Findlay Market, and other light snack foods. The lounge is also working with a couple of local bakers and will be the first location on the Kentucky side of the river to serve Kombucha.
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To see more photos from inside, click the link below!
