First Street bar to be replaced by revived booze 'n' blues den
The Liquor Store is to close in First Street, following a slower than expected opening year.
Owner Doug Waldron told Confidential that although the bar had been 'ticking over', when it came to the First Street area he felt the brand had 'arrived at the party too early'.
Waldron said the move would however allow him to concentrate on revamping the original Liquor Store - opened on Blackfriars Street in 2012 - and turn attentions to opening another in the suburbs.
The closure comes amid a series of new openings in the neighbourhood, including Bassano bar, The Laundrette, Junkyard Golf and WOOD - the debut solo restaurant from Masterchef winner Simon Wood.
The site on Jack Rosenthal Street won't sit empty for long though, with plans already in place to reopen boozy blues bar, Bunny Jackson's Juke Joint.
The live music bar - created by Cane & Grain, Crazy Pedro's and Liars Club owner, Lyndon Higginson - was forced to close just months after opening when Beat Street's tenure at Great Northern Warehouse drew to a close.
Now the Americana bar - inspired by a one-legged harmonica player Higginson met in New Orleans - is due to revive its bonafide chicken wire stage when it relaunches in First Street on November 20th.
Higginson told Confidential: "The saddest thing about closing Beat Street was the loss of Bunny Jackson's, so it's amazing to get this opportunity to bring it back.
"Bunny's is all about escapism, invoking the spirit of New Orleans as you walk through the door; pure bourbon swillin', popcorn shrimpin', rock n roll.
"Liquor Store wasn't performing as well as they wanted, things can get a little flat around here at night, so we're here to light a fire and get the party started."
