The last remaining rotating lit sign in Over-the-Rhine will act as its own Roman candle when it sparks a business at the corner of West 12th Street and Central Parkway back to life this July.
Siblings Louisa Reckman and Gabriel Deutsch, in partnership with developer Urban Expansion, are reviving the historic Queen City Radio building and turning it into a 7,665-square-foot full-service bar and outdoor beer garden. Formerly a family-owned automobile service station that focused on car and satellite radio installation, the bar will feature 14 tap handles of rotating local, regional and national beer, canned and bottled beer, wine, a small cocktail program and boozy slushies. There will also be space for on-site food trucks and a food program coordinated by Eli’s BBQ’s Elias Leisring — a dream come true, says Deutsch.
Since 1967, the building at 222 West 12th St. has been known as Queen City Radio. After sitting vacant for several years, Reckman’s husband’s contracting firm, Urban Expansion, acquired the space just over a year ago, and it became the perfect location for Reckman and her brother to pursue their dream of opening a bar and restaurant.
With more than a decade of experience under their belts, including stints at Orchids at Palm Court, The Precinct, La Poste and more, both Deutsch and Reckman were eager to combine their knowledge and start their own venture. On top of being able to keep the original family business’ name and sign, the siblings felt it made perfect sense to transition their plans to this historically landmarked location.
“The Central Parkway protected bike lanes, street car and outdoor space were all gigantic bonuses — you can’t beat that,” Reckman says.
Reckman and Deutsch also applied just in time for their liquor permit last year after Cincinnati City Council created the Over-the-Rhine East and West Community Entertainment Districts, doubling the amount of permits allowed within their borders.
“We hit the right time,” Deutsch says. “We were able to take advantage of the newly emerging entertainment district, which we thought was going to work out really nicely for that whole neighborhood.”
Destined to not only be a summer hangout, Queen City Radio has also thought of how to keep patrons happy no matter the season. The location ultimately aims to be an everyman sort of bar, providing a warm and friendly atmosphere where you can relax, catch a game, watch the sunset and grab a post-work drink and bite. The space will also be one of the most pet-friendly destinations in the city.
“We want to be pet-friendly across the board,” Deutsch says. “You could bring your pet pig if you wanted to. As long as you clean up after yourself, we’re cool with it.”
Underground gas tanks once held court in the former parking lot where food trucks will set up shop alongside an expansive array of landscaping, which will decorate the beer garden and run throughout the space, providing a refreshing dose of the greenery to this particular area of Over-the-Rhine.
The bar will also feature its five original garage doors along the Central Parkway entrance, as well as a garage door on the West 12th Street entrance (opened weather permitting). An interior mezzanine level and a game room located near the front, with classics such as Skee-Ball and Golden Tee, will also make for great private party options. Additionally, the bar will offer beer and wine delivery service in partnership with local 53T Courier.
As Over-the-Rhine residents, Deutsch and Reckman believe in the importance of supporting their community and cite their neighborhood’s businesses and establishments as a large part of what has inspired them to pursue their vision. Their developer, Urban Expansion, has helped renovate spaces for OTR establishments like Goodfellas Pizzeria and the recently shuttered Happy Belly, and the siblings have also been working with other local companies like Such + Such for interior fabrications, Far-I-Rome Productions for brand and marketing support and Jason Snell of We Have Become Vikings for logo design.
Transitioning the property from abandoned auto business to a well-manicured bar will offer nearby residents of the historic Betts-Longworth district, downtown and West End — along with post-renovation Music Hall and Washington Park visitors — a quaint spot to stop by.
“We have a couple friends that live in the Betts-Longworth neighborhood, and they don’t have much over there,” Reckman says. “They’re so excited that we’re going to be the closest thing for them to be able to walk to.”
Deutsch and Reckman are also excited for recent developments and renovations cropping up in this area, such as the relocated Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 3CDC’s 20-room boutique hotel in a former ophthalmic hospital and Grandin Properties’ office and retail space development.
“It seems that by the end of 2017, this whole quarter of Over-the-Rhine will be fully developed and built out,” Deutsch says. “We’re excited to be the first ones to the block.”
QUEEN CITY RADIO, located at 222 W. 12th St., Over-the-Rhine, is slated to open in July. More info: qcrbar.com.
This article appears in Jun 15-22, 2016.
