- METRO TAPROOM & MUSIC HALL
LOCATION:
Race St. Station [abandoned] Cincinnati, Ohio
PROJECT: Beer taproom and music venue inspired by 1930s streetcars, speakeasies, and Electro Swing ARCH4002 Capstone Studio & THPR6002 Ind. Study Project - Emma Schrantz - April 2015
Project brief & GOALS GOAL:
To create a themed bar, club, and venue for Cincinnati in the abandoned subway station under Race St. The theme draws elements from a 1930s speakeasy, while combining the stylistic elements and colors of the underground system abandoned by the city.
EMOTIONS:
The bar will be a type of escape from reality. It will evoke the moods and styling of the Prohibition Era. Rich materials, formally-styled staff uniforms, era-apropriate streetcars and signage will evoke a sense of luxury and secrecy, an escape from not only work and reality, but also the casual aspect of today’s current bar scene. It will not be alienating luxury though; as speakeasies tended to pull in all types of men and women in search of a great evening.
ELEMENTS: Bar menu focusing on the growing craft beer scene in Cincinnati, as well as Prohibition themed cocktails and wine will push a higher-end feel.
Two bars will be built into vintage 1930s streetcars, in the style of what Cincinnati was going to use. Guests can walk up to one, with a sit-down bar at the other (flexible, movable seating options). A third streetcar will be used as a lounge, which could be used as a VIP option if the need arises.
To enhance the secretive and underground feeling, lounge seating will be constructed in the track bays. While tables can be set up on the main floor, these lounge spaces will be more private, and will offer a more intimate seating environment.
Fonts, logos, and uniforms are derived from vintage rail elements, as well as inspired by the Art Deco aesthetic.
NAME: “METRO” is meant to invoke the concept of subterranean travel, as it is a common name for subway systems in America and Europe.
inspiration
PRECEDENTS legal and illegal underground parties UBahn Fest (left) was a legal underground concert in Cincinnati’s abandoned tunnels that happened in 2013, starring rap and EDM acts. ‘Before We Were Ghosts’ (right) was just one of many illegal parties in one of the abandoned NYC subway tunnels, occurring in 2013 and featured on Gothamist. Also, sometime in 1965, Andy Warhol was purported to have thrown an illegal underground party in the abandoned station under the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in NYC.
U STREET MUSIC HALL Washington, DC U Street is a basement venue that has one of the best sound systems in the Capitol. It is smaller in size, only hosting a capacity of 500 guests and offering a 1,200 square foot dance floor.
LA JAVA Paris, France La Java is an underground nightclub located in the Belleville neighborhood since 1930. It serves as the house club for the Electro Swing Club in Paris, started by DJ Typoboy in 2010.
U-BAHN Philadelphia, PA U-Bahn is a new bar in Philadelphia inspired by the Berlin Metro system. The bar is located beneath one of the best craft beer bars in the City, and serves up live music in a rail-themed environment.
plan & views Today, the Race Street Station appears to be fully intact and structural, albeit largely untouched. The images below were recently taken by Zach Fein Photography and cincinnatitransit.net, respectively. As the space is notoriously hard to gain access to, the preliminary design plans are drafted from current photos and the original 1911 drawings, obtained from the City of Cincinnati Department of Transportation & Engineering. The station currently has 3 track bays, one of which could be used for HVAC and water systems. STEP 1: FIRE & SAFETY - The Race St. station would need to be professionally evaluated for code and existing conditions. Proper ventilation, HVAC, and fire systems and exits would need to be installed. New Elevator shafts would need to be cut into each end of the proposed bar. STEP 2: CLEANING - The station would need to be thoroughly cleaned of any biological waste and chemicals (paints, fluids, etc). The concrete would need to be sealed. Rusted metal and railings would be removed and potentially replaced. STEP 3: CONSTRUCTION - At this point, the streetcars could be brought in, and construction would begin, starting with closing a portion of the full station off from the remainder of the 11-mile line. Floor structure would be installed over the HVAC and lines installed in the central track line. Interior walls and fixtures could then be installed.
PLAN VIEW
w
OFFICE 192 SF
TRACK LOUNGE 4 500 SF
COAT ROOM 384 SF
BAR CAR 460 SF
e
LOUNGE CAR 460 SF
SERV 98 SF
KITCHEN 1200 SF
1 ENTRY/ RECEPTION
DANCE FLOOR 4,788 SF
STAGE 388 SF
FIRE STAIRS 288 SF
2 3
STORAGE 297 SF
RESTROOMS 496 SF
BAR CAR 460 SF
TRACK LOUNGE 1,000 SF
JAN. 98 SF
RESTROOMS 600 SF
TRACK LOUNGE
SECTION - WEST VIEW
DANCE FLOOR
BAR CAR
LOUNGE CAR
SECTION - EAST VIEW
DANCE FLOOR & STAGE
TRACK LOUNGE
VIEw 1 - Entry & RECEPTION Traditional Subway staircase with a twist - Concrete textured walls created with an Art Deco pattern.
VIEw 2 - Stage & DaNCE FLOOR Vintage Edison-style lighting and tin ceiling panels keep the low space well-lit.
VIEw 3 - bar car Two vintage streetcars make a perfect place for bartenders to serve up craft beer and Prohibition-era cocktails.
VIEw 4 - track lounge Tired guests can take a seat in the track bay lounges, lit by string lighting and protected by bar rails.
Logo & UNIFORMS My logo was inspired by metro signs from around the United States as well as the nickname for Cincinnati, the Queen City. The early drafts of the logo included a crowned ‘M’ in the spirit of the Washington Metro with an Art Deco Font. Once I chose my final font, I shifted my focus to the crown and removed the M. Inspired by beer pints and the shape of the Cincinnati subway tunnel, the Crown can be used independently, or with the name of the venue. The uniforms are inspired by early 1900s rail conductor uniforms, bartending outfits, and traveling dresses, all with modern styling and flair. Collar pins are used on all shirts, and the embroidered apron is intended to be used on any of these uniforms. Gold replica pocket watches are included with the double-breasted vests.
WAITER/BARTENDER Male and Female Options.
Busser Without apron, can be used as a host uniform.
HOSTESS Front and Back; can be used for any female employee if desired.
MATERIALS & MERCHANDISE
HOUSE BEER RENDERING
Materials sampling - Embroidery & Laser cut Coasters (from Liberty Sportswear)
METRO
- METRO -
TAPROOM & MUSIC HALL
ON TAP RHINEGEIST METRO ALE [HOUSE] LIGHT RHINEGEIST COUGAR 4.8 % | 20 IBU | cincinnati, oh
Rivertown Helles Lager
Mt. carmel amber
$6
Ei8ht Ball Reintarnation
$5.50
schlafly pale ale 4.4 % | 25 IBU | st louis, mo
HOPS
DARk $6
7.2 % | 75 IBU | cincinnati, oh
DOGFISH HEAD 90 minute dipa
$7 $6 $5.50
$8 $9 $6
5.5 % | 0 IBU | albany, ny
$6
YARDS SAISON
white rum, maraschino liqueur, pineapple juice, grenandine
gin rickey
Mint Julep
$9
$5.50 $5.50
CABERNET SAUVingon
$9
Merlot
$6
gin or vodka, champagne, simple syrup, lemon juice
dry gin, cointreau, lemon juice, egg white
stormy weather
REDEYE
$8
$8
dark rum, ginger beer, lime $7
Subway breeze
$7
bourbon, cranberry juice, grapefruit juice
$8
CHAMPAGNE $8
THIRD RAIL
$9
tequila, orange, habanero, agave syrup, lime juice
angus beef sliders
BRECKENRIDGE SUMMERBRIGHT ALE
$6
$2.50
Bud or BUD LIGHT Miller Or MILLER LIGHT actual water
$3 FREE!
Coke Products Ice tea lemonade - plain or raspberry Arnold palmer ginger ale coffee - espresso - etc draft root beer - $3 (frosted mug)
MERCHANDISE pint glass 1/2 growler growler shirt
$6
$30
$8
$70
GARLIC PARM CHIPs $5 $10 $20 $15
$10
SOUTHERN CHICKEN SLIDERS
$10
$8
CHARCUTERIE BOARD
$13
$8
BRUSCHETTA
goat cheese, pickle, chips beer cheese + bacon honey mustard dips
DRY DRINKS
$45
BAR SNACKS
Pub pretzels $8
$9
nicholas feuillate | france | nv
6.5 % | 30 IBU | philadelphia, pa
Terrapin Moo-hoo Milk stout
$46
aves del sur | maule valley, chile | 2010
brandy, kaluha
$9
$10
Pinot noir
moonlight serenade
$10
$26
lava cap | sierra foothills, ca | 2011
french 75
WATER
4.6 % | 20 IBU | portland, or
6.7 % | 65 IBU | portland, or
Rhinegeist fiction xpa
whiskey, vermouth, bitters, orange peels, brandied cherries
6.0 % | 30 IBU | athens, ga
Gluten free widmer omission ipa
TERRAPIN WAKE - N - BAKE STOUT
$9
$7
4.5 % | 15 IBU | denver, co
4.8 % | 15 IBU | hershey, pa
widmer ommision lager
deutsches blake butte porter
Mary pickford
$6
vigneti | friuli, italy | 2012
avanti | della venezie, italy | 2012
6.0 % | 40 IBU | cincinnati, oh
5.7 % | 0 IBU | portland, me
TROEGS DREAMWEAVER
Great lakes edmund fitzgerald
$10
$36
pinot grigio
bourbon, mint, simple syrup, ice
seasonal
9.8 % | 19 IBU | cooperstown, ny
Nine pin hunny pear cider
cognac, grand mariner, lemon juice, & sugared orange
Manhattan
$8
trullo | rheinhessen, germany | 2011
bathtub gin, lime juice, soda water
8.6 % | 50 IBU | athens, ga
FRUIT & SPICE ALLAGASH coolship red
RIESLING
$11
$6
5.2 % | 30 IBU | bend, or
4.5 % | 55 IBU | cincinnati, oh
OMMEGANG 3 PHILOSOPHERS
rivertown oatmeal stout
$6
5.8 % | 37 IBU | cleveland, oh
6.9 % | 70 IBU | cincinnati, oh
rivertown lil sipa
$8
4.0 % | 38 IBU | cincinnati, oh
9.0 % | 90 IBU | milton, de
MADTREE psychopathy ipa
$6
9.5 % | newport, ky
4.7 % | 11 IBU | cincinnati, oh
RHINEGEIST TRUTH
RAILCAR [sIGNATURE COCKTAIL]
6.0 % | 34 IBU | cincinnati, oh
5.3 % | 18 IBU | cincinnati, oh
MADTREE LIFT
Wine LIST
$6
MALT $6
taproom & Music Hall
COCKTAILS 4.6 % | 15 ABU
Happy Hour M-TH 3-7 1/2 price select drafts, drinks, and snacks
local meats and cheeses, served with blue oven baugette
$8
tomato, garlic, basil, baugette
garlic, parmesean, truffle oil
metro chips
pickles, mayo, chips
$6
boneless WINGS
$10
montgomery inn bbq, bechamel, scallions
12 wings; choose bbq, hot, stoutsiracha or garlic parm sauce
PLAIN chips
SOUP OF THE DAY
$4
$6
www.metro-taproom.com
BAR RAIL MOCKUP The bar rail component of my project simulates the railing meant to protect guests from falling into the lounge, while offering them a place to rest and set drinks down. It utilizes a copper art deco screen to add some flair to the piece. This 4-foot section of the rail was created full-scale for my final presentation at DAAPWorks.
RENDERING
STEp 1: WELD RAILS
STEP 2: ADD SHELF AND SCREENS
STEP 3: PAINT AND ADD FLOOR BASE
STEP 4: FINAL PRESENTATON @ DAAPWORKS