Nearly two years after a fire swept through half of Union Street in Athens, Ohio, The Union Bar is serving patrons again.
The Union Bar was believed to be the epicenter of a major November 2014 fire that ignited neighboring structures. During the fire, flames focused their efforts on The Union Bar and three properties to the east, resulting in a total loss. The street facades were all that remained of century-old buildings.
BDT principals, frequent guests of The Union Bar and Grill and adjacent Jackie O’s Brewpub, immediately offered their services to the restoration efforts. Jim Thomas, a BDT Principal, helped guide the rebuild over multiple phases of construction. The first priority was to replace the roof to halt further weather-related damage to the remaining structure. Before the roof was overhead, Jim saw an opportunity to open up the second floor concert hall. Originally, the roof beams had spanned to a column line in the center of the floor. Sizing the beam to span the whole property allowed an unobscured view to the stage.
Larger accessible restrooms were a much needed addition to the first floor, as was an outdoor patio that reached from the second floor bar. However, the Union Bar is not without its former quirks. The visiting musical acts still need to lug their equipment up the famous flight of stairs to the stage. BDT Principals Nicholas Bittner and Don Dispenza were both set drummers early in their career. They both agree that hauling bass drums up stairs builds character.
While the block’s rebuild from the ground up is fully underway, the Union Bar was the first of the four businesses to reopen in its pre-fire location. Union Street is considered the oldest commercial strip in Athens, Ohio and the Union Bar itself, many believe, could be the oldest operating bar in the city.
Union Bar reopened for business in June. BDT is proud to have assisted in revamping this historic local watering hole and influential music venue.