Hamilton’s Urban Backyard

Hamilton’s Urban Backyard, a.k.a. the “HUB” on Main Street, held its highly anticipated grand opening in October of 2021. The business is a food and drink establishment that also serves as a family-friendly communal gathering and hang-out space for residents. The interior of the historic building has been renovated into a fully stocked bar with a varitey of popular local brews on tap, and on the outdoor patio food is served from a rotating selection of local food trucks. The turfed courtyard hosts various activities such as cornhole, firepits, games, and more to entertain guests.

Owners Dave and Emily Ernst and Jeff and Gina Bucalo came up with the idea a few years ago, and were inspired to move forward by the current momentum in Hamilton. Giving back and being deeply engaged with the local community has been a priority for the HUB, and the business has hosted multiple charity and sponsoships nights throughout the year, as well as community events such as the Bengals Semifinal Tailgate.

Are you from Hamilton?

I grew up in Hamilton. Emily is originally from Saint Mary’s Ohio. We lived in Michigan before and moved back here at the end of 2004, so I could go into business with my dad.

Where did the idea for The HUB come from?

We’d been toying around with various concepts to do something in the city for a while, given everything that’s been going on in Hamilton. One day our partners Jeff and Gina tossed out the idea of this food truck park in an empty lot they’d seen up in Michigan, and that’s how the idea was introduced. Then, in 2019, we went to the State of the City Address, and after hearing about everything that was coming to Hamilton, Jeff and I set up a meeting with Brandon Saurber to pitch our idea. Next thing you know we’re talking to Small Business, they started showing us spaces, and then Emily came up with the name. This property really lent itself to fit the name and the idea. Being in the downtown district, an outdoor space, kind of unique. It worked out great.

How do you know your coowners?

Gina and I went to high school together at Badin, and Jeff and Gina actually moved back to the area around the same time we did in 2004. Our kids also went to school together, so we’ve been in a mutual friend group with a bunch of people for the past 20 years.

What was it like trying to open amidst the pandemic?

Well, we kind of lucked out. We didn’t open until the tail end of a lot of the restrictions. Had we been any earlier, it would have been really difficult, I think. The fact that we have an outdoor space helped because that’s what people really wanted to have available. Having been around other cities during the pandemic with my consulting company, I could see that Hamilton adapted. They tried to keep businesses open and do things uniquely. Knowing Main Street was just on a rebound, and a lot of people had invested money, they were thinking “how can we help these folks through this process.”

What was the transition to owning a bar like?

Oh, we had several “what have we gotten ourselves into” moments. We still have several of them. It was pretty much a leap of faith. There’s just so much positive change happening in Hamilton, and we wanted to be a part of it.

How was the process?

We worked with Mallory Greenham and Lauren Nelson in the small business group, and they were very accommodating. We looked at several buildings, but this one lent to the idea the best. We submitted our request in March, and then two weeks later all hell broke loose with the pandemic, so this was put on the back burner. Then a couple of months later, we get a call saying “well, what do you guys think? We want to go forward with your project.” And I’m like, oh, well I don’t know. But, the four of us thought, we’d go through due diligence and just see what happened. So they kind of coached us through it all.

What has been the response?

Very positive, very supportive. We’ve been very well received and very well embraced. Even by other similar businesses. It’s like the saying, “a high tide raises all ships.” Everyone is genuinely happy to see each other succeed.

Where do you spend your free time?

Basil, Casual Pint, Billy Yanks, Fretboard, Marcum Park. When the kids were in school, we started a Thursday tradition where we’d ride our bikes from Rentschler Park to downtown, then go to All8Up for pizza and calzones. Then we’d go get a beer at Casual Pint, and then another at Municipal. People will ask us if we’ve been to these places in Cincinnati or Over the Rhine, and I say, “No, we celebrate local.” Basically, if we go to hang out, we go somewhere in Hamilton.

What has been the most exciting moment?

The community, the support of it, that’s the most rewarding. There were quite a few businesses in this building before, so the appreciation of people who had relatives who worked here when it was a coal company, and a shoe-repair place. You know, that people are just excited to see that we saved the building. We’d been told by Ken Rivera, head of the building department, that the last time he came through the place they were getting ready to issue permits for demolition. When people walk in and say, “you’re saving the house we grew up in.” I mean, that kind of stuff you can’t put a price tag on. That’s the coolest part.

How has your relationship with the community been?

The goal is to be a part of the community. For March Madness, we did a Brewery Madness to raise money for a local charity. We’ve done charity events with the 12 Days of Christmas, stuff with adoptions for pets, we gave to the Caring Closet. We’ve done sponsorships with the Hamilton Joes, West Side Little League, and we’re doing one for the Saint Joe’s 5k. And all the picnic tables outside were made by the students at Hamilton High through Butler Tech, so that was really cool too. That’s really the kind of place we want to be: family-oriented and giving back to the community. My dad always said, “Never forget where you came from.” So we’re learning every day, how we can use this space, how we can impact the city, and what we can do to be a part of its growth, you know. Dan Bates, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, said to us that he really wants this to be a destination spot. Not just for Hamilton residents, but from all over. So, literally and figuratively, a hub.

Charge the Line is displayed on the Hamilton Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 20 building located at 204 North Third Avenue, and was completed in Summer of 2021. The lead artist and designer for the mural is Mark Hanavan, with help from supporting artists Jennifer Eickelberger, Emily Mason and Brooke Owens. The mural is meant to honor the Hamilton Firefighter’s hard work, courage, lives lost in the line of duty, and their success at keeping the city safe.

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