An Athens couple who have incorporated marriage into a business partnership will soon own and manage a new restaurant on Court Street.
The building that once housed The Blue Gator, 63 N. Court St., has been vacant since 2008 and will soon be home to a new restaurant and bar managed by Eric Moss and Barb North-Moss.
The Mosses currently own W.G. Grinders, 120 W. Union St., and said the new restaurant will utilize local resources for food and drinks, something they had trouble doing at W.G. Grinders. The new establishment should bring in 40-50 new jobs, Moss said.
“You never want to see a building vacant for a long time,” he said. “And (the Blue Gator building) was vacant long enough.”
The couple was approached by Gator Guys LLC, which purchased the property earlier this year, to lease the first floor space of the building, Moss said, adding that the corporation is handling the renovation on the restaurant space.
“We’ve just got to worry about the restaurant equipment and the decorations,” he said. “They’ve been really great to work with throughout this process.”
The restaurant will offer a full menu with “casual dining” options and have live entertainment and brunch on the weekends, North-Moss said. The name of the restaurant will be kept a secret until the grand opening in October 2013, she said.
Though they’re moving Uptown and closer to Ohio University’s campus, the Mosses don’t want their new establishment to become a “sloppy bar,” North-Moss said.
“We’re more about making the environment and the drinks enjoyable,” Moss said. “We’re not just worried about making money off of the liquor.”
Moss acknowledged that some Uptown bars are subject to underage drinking but said he does everything to prevent underage drinking at W.G. Grinders and will do the same thing at his new establishment.
Despite these efforts, however, Moss said that not all bars can prevent underage students from getting into bars and drinking.
“You can do everything in your power to stop (underage drinking) from happening, but if someone underage wants to get in and drink, they will, but we’re not for that at all,” Moss said. “People underage (can) come — and please do come — to enjoy the food and entertainment.”
jj360410@ohiou.edu
