New Neighborhood Bar With Community Focus to Open on Court Street Next Year

A neighborhood bar with a community focus will open on Court Street in downtown Cincinnati next year.

Entrepreneur Tracy Liu, a former corporate accounting manager, has signed a lease for a space at 44 E. Court St. in the Court Street Condos project to open Afterlife Bar. Liu says after a decade-long corporate career, she wanted to pivot to her lifelong dream of opening a bar that would bring all kinds of people together to connect on a deeper level.

“In the corporate world, I never felt like I could be my true self,” Liu shared in a press release. “We all wear professional masks at work, but outside of those walls, we all have our ‘afterlife.’ I wanted to create a space where everyone can feel free to be who they truly are. Attending music festivals has always given me a sense of freedom, playfulness and curiosity, and my vision for Afterlife is to offer that same feeling to everyone who walks through its doors.”

Located in a cozy 873-square-foot space and also partly inspired by a hidden speakeasy from Liu’s childhood home, Afterlife will offer a warm and inviting atmosphere along with a creative cocktail menu that will feature specialty drinks with occasional Asian-inspired infusions. The bar will also host interactive events designed to spark conversation and promote meaningful connections, with hidden games and rewards for patrons to discover.

“I was looking for a small, rectangular space for Afterlife, and I fell in love with the history of the buildings on Court Street,” Liu continued. “The architecture is stunning, there’s plenty of parking, and Court Street Plaza hosts incredible festivals and events that draw people in. It felt like the perfect location.”

To go along with the bar’s playful branding, the bar’s entrance is marked with the phrase, “Nothing to See Here,” along with a QR code that gives a sneak peek of what’s to come.

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Liu is working with Commercial Construction Group on the buildout of the space and INDIO on the design. She hopes to celebrate Afterlife’s grand opening in the summer.

Afterlife Bar, coming in 2025 to 44 E. Court St., Downtown. More info: afterlifespeakeasy.com.