After seven months of vacancy, a new tenant has been found for the former Redbird Brewery site on Second Avenue and B Street, according to Ken Constantino, one of the properties owners.
A lease was signed last Friday, Constantino said, by local restaurateur Greg St. Claire — who runs Mistral's in Redwood City, Nola in Palo Alto, A Tavola in San Carlos and Diablo, a Mexican eatery in Redwood City. The new restaurant will be called "Kingfish," and will feature a New Orleans-style Cajun menu. The restaurant should open early next year, Constantino said.
The restaurant will feature live music and an oyster bar, Constantino said, adding that St. Claire plans to run a bakery for all his restaurants from the kitchen.
The restaurant will be located in the 1930s art deco style Merkel building which, at one time, housed a drug store where residents placed bets on horse racing. Later it housed a hair salon and cobbler. Six years ago, the building was renovated to house the eye-catching brass beermaking equipment in the windows now. But Constantino said that equipment will be sold since the only brew at Kingfish will come from behind the bar.
After two failed brew pubs at the site - Barley and Hopps was the first establishment to shut its doors in 1998 - Constantino said he was apprehensive to sign another brew pub lease.
"We had a lot of interest but we were very cautious and selective because of the failed brewery presence," Constantino said.
Six months after Barley and Hopps went out of business, Redbird Brewing Company opened its doors in 1998. Accumulated debt, however, forced Redbird to shut down in late April last year.
Across the street at B Street Billiards, managing partner Michelle Khan said she's happy to see the property leased. "I think anytime a business shuts down it hurts downtown," she said. "Business brings business."
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