Congress Street just got a little emptier this week after two downtown businesses shut their doors for remodeling. Hub Restaurant and Ice Creamery at 266 E. Congress St. will tentatively reopen Aug. 11 with substantial renovations to the kitchen, bathrooms and dining spaces. Its sister bar Playground at 278 E. Congress St. will reopen sometime this fall.
"We needed a little facelift after six and a half years," says Hub's general manager Emmie Fohr. When it opens, Hub's dining room will sport new tables and chairs, as well as a private dining room in the former Pizzeria Bianco space, next door.
The improvements are part of a deal by businessman Scott Stiteler with the Rio Nuevo district, the Daily Star reported in April. Under the terms of the deal, Stiteler pledged to invest $3.2 million to expand and renovate his two businesses. The deal also includes renovations on nearby Elvira's, of which Stiteler is the landlord.
Stiteler's other venture Martin Drug Co., housed in the old Proper space on the southeast corner of Congress and Fifth Ave., will host a pop-up restaurant in the meantime, with many of the popular dishes from the Hub kitchen. (There will be a dining space behind the new furry wall.) Lunch and dinner service will run 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with bar bites in the evenings.
Playground will temporarily move to a patio area behind Martin Drug Co. at 300 E. Congress St. The space is being constructed to look like the rooftop bar at Playground, and will take on a nightclub vibe with DJs and late-night bar bites. Playtime at Martins will be 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Yoga Oasis will also move its Playground rooftop yoga to the new courtyard area during renovations.
Hub Ice Cream Factory will remain open all summer, so you still get your choco tacos. Whew!
