Kent bar popularity determined by image and location

Story by Chelsey Milkovich and Martin Harp

Video by Jenson Strock

The city of Kent offers locals and students alike a variety of bars to visit downtown. Over the last few years of renovations and development, the growth of the city has changed, shifting popularity from Franklin Avenue to South Water Street causing establishments to relocate or shut down.

Mike Beder, owner of Water Street Tavern and Venice Cafe said there is a noticeable difference in walk in bar traffic at both locations. Venice Cafe, located at the corner of Erie and Franklin, sees a smaller population as compared to Water Street Tavern, located on South Water Street.

Since 2001, Mike Beder has owned and operated Water Street Tavern at its original location on North Water Street, in the vicinity next to the well-known Brewhouse (what used to be a Panini’s.) After relocating to South Water Street, Water Street Tavern noticed big changes and acquired a lot of the foot traffic from the Buffalo Wild Wings located on Franklin Avenue.

“10 years ago, before the Kent city renovations and uprising, Franklin Avenue was the go-to spot for bar hoppers,” Beder said. “Franklin Avenue was the focus of downtown.”

After Buffalo Wild Wing’s relocation to the old Franklin Hotel on Main Street in December 2012 and Mugs Brew Pub closing shop in late 2014, interest has clearly shifted in barhopping locations.

“There is certainly a difference in the amount of people we see at Venice and Water Street,” Beder said. “I believe the bar location has a lot to do with that.”

Since Water Street partnered with Mr. Zubs mid 2014, they open their bar daily at 11 a.m. and remain open until 2:30 a.m. Venice Café has a more limited set hours of business, as they are only open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Beder said this also has a lot to do with the dining aspect Water Street has to offer and Venice does not.

As of right now we do not have food in our bar scheme at Venice, but it’s a work in progress,” Beder said. “For now, we like to keep our laid-back reputation going and act as a meeting place for old friends to sit around and catch up rather the louder, engaging atmosphere Water Street Tavern has to offer.”

For businesses trying to stay a float in the ever-growing city of Kent, it is very important to keep your bar up to date, said Beder.

“Coming from a business owner’s perspective, I believe that it is important to keep your business relevant as new establishments appear in a city,” said Beder. “Competition keeps every one on their feet, so I believe it makes a lot of sense to offer different features to your customers besides food and drinks.”

Water Street Tavern offers an upstairs patio as well as featuring live music for all ages to sit down and enjoy in the bar atmosphere.

“Before I knew what specifically was going to happen with the development of the city of Kent, I knew it was going to be big,” said Beder. “It was important to me to turn Water Street into something more than just a place to get drinks.”

While bar location in Kent stands as a huge factor in bringing customers to certain places, another factor we may not take in to consideration is a bar’s image. A certain image or edge can be just as important to an establishment to keep people’s interest and intrigue them for business.

Beder said Water Street Tavern may have an image of being the party bar in downtown Kent and the bar most synonymous with the university.

“We’re probably the bar most students go to to party and have a good time,” Beder said. “Everything is in blue and gold and we are the official post game party place for Kent.”

The identification with Kent State is intentional, Beder said and he wants Water Street Tavern to be the place to go for students.

“We want to be the bar that’s most closely identified with Kent State,” Beder said. “Either it be us trying to do it or just the memories people have. I think we’ve just grown to become part of the Kent State community.”

Moving forward, Beder said he would like Water Street Tavern to be a place people remember when they look back at their time in Kent or at the university.

“When someone comes back to Kent with someone that is visiting I want Water Street to be the first place they bring them,” Beder said. “They see the blue and gold and think Kent State and get that KSU experience.”

On the other side, Beder said that Venice Cafe is looked at as the calm and relaxed place to go to.

“A student now I would hope would view Venice as an old school place that is very laid back and been here for generations,” Beder said.

The atmosphere and feel of Venice Cafe could be looked at as old school considering its history, Beder said.

“We sell a ton of Moscow Mules in copper cups,” Beder said. “It kind of gives that old school Prohibition era feel since Venice was built in 1941.”

However at Ray’s Place, manager Tom Kreech said they don’t so much shoot for an image rather than being remembered for their service.

“We just try harder,” Kreech said. “All of our beers on tap are just instances of us trying harder than everyone else. People want craft beer so we give it to them.”

Kreech said the feel of Ray’s Place may differ from person to person, but in the end the factor they will remember is their time there.

“There’s all one common thread in all of it, whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner.” Kreech said. “And it’s the excellent service. Some people look at us and feel a different way than the next. But the atmosphere we want is that we work harder and know more than the rest.”

Although each bar may have an image or may be located in a specific part of downtown Kent, Beder said he just wants everyone to feel welcome.

“Based on who students identify with they may see certain bars as certain hangouts for certain people.” Beder said. “We are just here to serve all and include everyone no matter what.”