Students returning to campus this fall will see a few changes to the Athens bar and restaurant scene, as two Uptown businesses recently underwent renovations.
Casa Nueva, 4 W. State St., just finished renovations that have been two years in the making, said Sean Colins, one of Casa Nueva and Casa Cantina's 17 owners.
Now we are totally open
Colins said. We have double the space now.
Walls in Casa Cantina, which is the bar part of the restaurant, were knocked down to expand the space to twice its original size, which now can serve up to 172 customers instead of 88 before the renovation, he said.
The renovations cost about $175,000, and Colins said this is the largest and most expensive renovation Casa Cantina has made since it was added to Casa Nueva in 1993.
A non-smoking section was added in the Casa Cantina bar, so non-smokers can wait in the non-smoking area before they are served in the restaurant.
Another addition is a second kitchen, which can serve more appetizers and add quick, convenient food during lunchtime, said Alicia Cordell, one of the owners of Casa Nueva and a cook and server in the restaurant.
Cordell said the renovation mainly will improve bar business, as the extra shelf space allowed them to increase their liquor selection.
Another benefit of the remodeling is being able to have more space to showcase local art, she said.
Another Uptown bar, Lucky's Sports Tavern, 11 N. Court St., recently completed renovations at the front of the bar.
Shawn Ritchie, manager of Lucky's Sports Tavern, said they took away some coolers that held soft drinks and added two billiards tables at the front of the bar. The walls also got a fresh coat of paint, adding a different feel to the bar, he said.
Ritchie said the renovation was rather simple, taking only three days to complete.
We closed the bar on July 24 and opened it again on July 27 Ritchie said. The renovation cost about a couple hundred bucks.
When asked how the renovation will affect the business, Ritchie said it will help them concentrate on the food.
(The renovation) makes us take advantage of the kitchen and can also boost our bar sales Ritchie said.
Though people can still buy beer for take-out from Lucky's at the front, Ritchie said they are not featuring it anymore.
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