Neighborhood bar Pearl's opening in Columbia-Tusculum

Pearl's Bar, a new neighborhood bar in Columbia-Tusculum, will have its soft opening Wednesday.

Lifelong friends John Tieman, Scott Yards and Mike Finley are the owners of the new bar at 3520 Eastern Ave.

"It's a cool take on old and new that I think is a beautiful blend," Tieman said of the bar.

Pearl's is in a 100-plus-year-old building that backs up to Columbia Square, home to Bruegger's Bagels and the Green Dog Cafe. Tieman, a general contractor who has been building homes and doing remodeling work in the area since 2004, said they took took off most of the original exterior wood, scraped it down and sealed it with a clear coat. That gives the building a rundown appearance from the outside.

Inside, they kept the 100-year-old hardwood floors, restored old windows and exposed the ceiling joists. A 1,000-square-foot first floor will have room for about 40 at bar- and dining-height tables.

The owners took down four chimneys in the building and repurposed them into a large fireplace for the 1,000-square-foot outdoor patio, which has space for about 60. Complete with pine trees, the patio will afford views of the neighborhood's "painted ladies." Sliding glass doors will create an open space during nice weather.

"When you walk in the front door, the centerpiece would be the outdoor fireplace all the way to the back," Tieman said.

There will be a private party room upstairs, featuring restored hutches from the original house and a New Orleans-style deck, he said.

There will be two TVs inside and two outside, plus three upstairs in the private party area.

A small food menu of five appetizers will include a hot pretzel, beef jerky and fresh bread with olive oil for dipping. The food menu won't be available for the opening but should launch sometime next week.

Eight draft handles will include domestics and crafts, including beer from Blank Slate just down the road. There will be about 30–35 craft bottles and cans, a few classic cocktails and about eight each of white and red wines.

Pearl's got the first liquor license in the Community Entertainment District created for Columbia Tusculum, the East End and Linwood, Tieman said.

"Columbia Tusculum has changed significantly over the last 10 years," he said. "I've watched the community grow; I've watched how, little by little, it has really taken shape to be a great community."

Hours will be 4 p.m.–2 a.m. Monday-Thursday; 3 p.m.–2 a.m. Friday; noon–2 a.m. Saturday; and noon–midnight Sunday.

513-832-0485; www.pearlscincy.com