New Bar - Restaurant Opening

Thursday morning I stopped at Sunergos for a cup of coffee. On the way I passed by the old Brown Bag and noticed that some kind of work continues. After I got my coffee I went back down the street to see if I could find out more.

The first thing I noticed some weeks ago was that the facade had been pulled off and there was a front of black and white tile with a 'Z' in the center. When I entered I found people working all around the inside. You could tell though that it was finishing work as lots seemed done. The inside is done in two tone wallpaper of shiny and soft flat black. Tables and fixtures are done in stainless steel and the accents are done in red - lights, fans and some trim.

There will be 4 large screen TV's on the walls. Seating is to be 115 with standing crowd total of 250. That will be crowded inside I think. They do have a large outdoor enclosed beer garden in the rear.

After nosing around for a bit, the new owner came out from the back where he was doing real work. Antz Wettig introduced himself. Yeah, I had that same feeling. Where do I know that name from? Wettig Photography! Antz and his brother are the new owners of the building at 2100 S. Preston. We talked for about 15 minutes as he took me around the building pointing out all the changes, additions and improvements. Band stand. New counter up front. New lighting.

History. I really like to learn about old places here in Louisville. Turns out the 'Zanzabar' has been there as a bar in one form or another since about 1935. An old vet stopped in and told him that when he was at Ft. Knox back in the 30's he came into the Zanabar. Nord's owned from about 1953 until earlier this year.

The Zanabar will be open from 11-3 for lunch, served cafeteria style similar to the way Nord's did. Closed between 3-5 to clean and reset the counter for dinner beginning at 5 and running till midnight weekdays and 1 am on weekends. They are going to have Comfort Cuisine food. I spoke briefly to the chef and he is going to be smoking his own meats. Whilst they are closed each day the serving line will convert to a bar right up front.

Antz indicated he was going to open sometime mid week AFTER July 4th weekend.

I can't wait.

Durn!!

Right now he ONLY has corporate beers. Local brewmasters please contact and get your products in. If you need contact info drop me a line and I will give it to you.

Posted from Vienna WV!!

Richard

Right now he ONLY has corporate beers. Local brewmasters please contact and get your products in. If you need contact info drop me a line and I will give it to you.

Education is the cure for corporate beer. I'll pass along to our sales wizard.

It's actually Zanzabar... or Zbar for short.

Here's the site:

http://www.zanzabarlouisville.com/

It's going to be fun. I can't wait, either.

I want to know why he has my last name for his first name?

You know, Todd, when I read Richard's first post, that was exactly what popped into my mind.

[Robin Garr]

It was almost even before my time, but I believe the original was Zanzibar with an "I" in the middle, same as the African island.

It's actually Zanzabar... or Zbar for short.

Hey, I remember the Z-bar from college days long ago... when YOU were at UL, Robin!

[Robin Garr]

Hey, I remember the Z-bar from college days long ago... when YOU were at UL, Robin!

Were we old enough to drink then, Ken? Wait, did the Z-bar care?

Do you have any recollection about whether it was Zanzibar with an "i" like the Island? I'm pretty sure it was, as there was some hilarity in Dr. Naamani's "Africa South of the Sahara" course in political science when we got to that chapter ...

The drinking age was 18 back then, as I recall... and yes, it was Zanz -i - bar, but nobody called it that. I have fonder memories of the old Cardinal Inn, right there on campus.

[Robin Garr]

The drinking age was 18 back then, as I recall... and yes, it was Zanz -i - bar, but nobody called it that. I have fonder memories of the old Cardinal Inn, right there on campus.

Not in Kentucky within my memory, Ken. Heck, in this state, we're lucky we got it DOWN to 21!

And yes, I've consumed many a Cardinal Burger. Guess its original site would be pretty much in the middle of today's campus.

Yep, you're right. I had it mixed up with voting age (which was 18 in KY before most places) and NY, where we moved and drinking age in the 70's was 18 there.

[Robin Garr]

Yep, you're right. I had it mixed up with voting age (which was 18 in KY before most places) and NY, where we moved and drinking age in the 70's was 18 there.

Perzackly! I worked summers at a camp in New York in my late teens, and was quite taken by the Empire State's progressive point of view.

It was the Zanzibar and we called it the Zbar. In my lifetime, the legal drinking age has always been 21 in Kentucky.
MADD and others were successful in having Congress create incentives for the states that permitted drinking at 18 to raise that to 21. This has caused serious enforcement problems at college parties where students must be carded and college liability for poor enforcement has increased. A large group of college presidents has asked Congress for some flexibility on the age requirement in a closed college environment.

My best to the partners of this new venture!!!!!!!!