Blinky’s Bar is coming soon at 609 Grand Street! This new neighborhood hangout is taking over the location of Noorman’s Kil, a long-time Grand Street establishment. New owners, Rhoades Hughes and Jose Valenzuela, have transformed the space into a warm and inviting atmosphere, ready to welcome the Grand Street community through its doors. This behind the scenes, sneak peak of the time, work, and love these guys put in to their new space will get you excited to sip and snack with them at the upcoming opening!
Rhoades and Jose have been friends since 2004, and for a period of time both lived in the Grand Street neighborhood where they became regulars at Noorman’s Kil. They often expressed interest in one day buying the bar. Then, this past year amidst the pandemic, the time came and the two partners negotiated a transfer of ownership, upon which Blinky’s was born.
Booths and interior decor were hand crafted by Blinky’s owners and team, with repurposed materials from the old bar.
Backyard space is big and beautiful! The team is continuing to get it up and running before they open.
Blinky’s is a unique space. Designed and built by the owners with the help of friends and family, the interiors are constructed with wood and materials from the preceding bar. New upholstery was sourced from their neighbors at Estilo Upholstery across the street.
A collaborative effort, the team let the space dictate the design as they built it. They successfully achieved a simple and light setting, transforming the storefront to be more open and inviting. When you enter, the soft blue paneling and seating is warm and enticing, and is complimented by the wooden booths, bar top, and painted shelving. Impressive reuse of old materials on the interior is not only sustainable, but an exemplary practice of preservation and conservation in light of the 100+ year old building the bar resides in.
Blinky’s time capsule cleverly hidden within the bar’s infrastructure. Let them know what else they should add!
Clearly a special place, the team building process behind the creation of Blinky’s dictates the community oriented feel fostered by the new ownership. The new bar will offer a variety of drinks, some snacks, and good vibes. There is also a spacious backyard perfect for socially distanced gathering! Although the exact opening date is only tentatively in the beginning of December, due to the evolving regulations surrounding the pandemic, the team is there every day getting things ready. Stop by to say hello! The door is always open.
Who is Blinky you ask? She’s Rhoades’ cat.