What ever happened to the Arena Bar? It may have been by default, since there were, what, two bars in Downtown Newark at the time, but two years ago, after 5 pm, there was usually something going on. Last year, there was a decent mixed nuts after-work crowd. Then they closed down for a few months, refurbished the bar lounge, and it’s never been the same.
A beautifully rebuilt bar with no one in it. Ray Kinsella is scratching his head somewhere.
Don’t get me wrong, the new decor looks great, but in my opinion, totally unnecessary. Arena Bar had potential to be a good sports bar without the million dollar facelift; they needed only to find someone in the tri-state area who knew how to use a deep fryer, grill a hamburger patty in under 45 minutes, and buy a leaf blower to corral all the money they’d reap.
Has the advent of Brick City Bar & Grill hurt happy hour business? Did rumors of jersey-clad sports fans denied entry for not adhering to a new dress code burn bridges? Whatever the case, I used to see handfuls of people loosening ties at 5:01, dumping cash on the counter and pouring beer down their throats. Not so much last week (my first happy hour visit since the autumn re-opening).
(Un)Happy hour? A lack of annoying banter suits me fine...
At BCBG, I counted several couples enjoying early dinners, and a few dozen worker bees throwing back cold ones at the bar. Then I dashed down the street to check the scene at Arena Lounge. After avoiding some kid practicing kick-flips outside the entrance, I walked in to see a bar devoid of any life. No casual drinkers nursing beers. No hardcore drunks slamming whatever they got their mitts on. Not even a bartender cutting lime wedges or wipin the counter out of habit.
The skater entered, walked behind the bar and took my order. This was the bartender! Kind of a sad state of affairs, I noted. He shrugged indifferently. For all I know, the Lounge makes bank at night. General consensus is that they’ve got a good sound system, and the clubbing crowd is high on such things. It made little difference to me either way, because I got to drink my Landshark draught in peace and quiet. But some company would be nice one in a while. So where did everyone go?
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
I had a friend that was saying the same thing about 2 weeks ago. The place is absolutely dead. You know, it might be a good place to set up a regular Giants game special or something once the time comes. Maybe talk to the guys there and see if they want to give you a special if you bring an event to the bar.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:13 am
That’s two recent posts… and two empty bars. You sure know how to pick ‘em Quade!!! If you ever want for a drinking buddy, I’ll be the guy pounding Irish car bombs at McGovern’s.
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:38 am
McGovern’s is the shit. You will always have a drink in your hand at the bar whether the barkeep knows you or not.
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I liked the atmosphere better when it was Arena Bar, but the bar definitely was re-done beautifully. I hope the crowd picks up there.
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Happy Hour doesn’t look to happy over there.. but I can say that its a great spot to go before Devils games. BCBG is always crazy packed and sometimes there’s even a wait to get in. Arena Bar is usually packed as well, but you can still get in and fight your way to the bar to get some beer(s) before the game. Its a pretty fun atmosphere to be in a bar wall-to-wall with other Devils fans – something we never had when the Devils were in the Meadowlands
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:35 pm
The reason obviously is Arena bar alienated alot of the locals with it’s over the top look and also pissing off Devils fans with a “No Jersey’s Allowed” policy. They also fired there best manager. All in all the owners have lost touch with what the patrons want and that’s a bar not a “NYC Lounge”. I don’t see them being able to continue like this until they change there rules and have a complete open door policy to the “Regular” crowd and not the “Upscale” one’s.
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:37 pm
It’s a gorgeous place but the food was only so-so. They need a brighter sign or something…when I went with a friend a few weeks ago we couldn’t even tell if it was open until we opened the door
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Ironbound, I have to disagree with one of your points. I also heard about the No Jerseys rule, but after a playoff game against Carolina, I stopped in at Arena Lounge and saw a couple people in jerseys. The crowd was VERY different from what it was a year earlier though. Definitely more club than pub.
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
I was here a few weeks ago after work and the place was kind of empty, but then I went back on a recent Friday night and by like midnight, the place was packed. It definitely changed from when it used to be Arena Bar and for the worse. Hell’s Kitchen is a way better place for Happy Hour and Devil’s games.
June 23rd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
Not too friendly there. Tons of spots walking distance where the atmosphere and employees make u feel welcome.
Not a smart move if your gonna open up a bar by the SPORTS arena
June 23rd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I have no idea what you guys are talking about.. I went there before a bunch of games last season and the place was packed with about 200 Devils fans, all wearing jerseys.
June 23rd, 2009 at 3:03 pm
Mike, the time I went in April, I saw some jerseys (literally 5 or 6), but it was AFTER a game, and definitely was not a Devils crowd.
June 23rd, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Thats really got to hurt. And the beer is passing its alive date.
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:32 pm
For what it’s worth, it was the huge banner for Ed Hardy Vodka that kept me walking.
June 23rd, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Arena Bar is still a great place to go before Devils games and is always packed before games. BCBG is awesome but man it is too packed in there! I heard that they were working on the upstairs for more room. (true?) That would be great. Scullys is fun too. All the local bars are packed before games. I love them all, and thats why I love the arena where it is because a poster earlier said we never had that at the swamp. Afer games its crowded but not that much. Went there before seeing Dane Cook and it was packed but food took forever. The kid on the skate board has got to go! Still a great place.
July 15th, 2009 at 3:42 am
I am definitely a Hell’s Kitchen kind of girl, and the AB facelift has done nothing to change my mind. Too much bass.