The joint was hopping, but it didn't seem as jam-packed as the original Powell Blvd. Hopworks grand opening a little over three years ago. Of course, the anticipation for that opening had been building for nearly two years, whereas the BikeBar came together in just a few months, and the outdoor seating area accommodated a lot of patrons on what turned out to be a beautiful evening after a soggy, gray day.
The BikeBar is fantastic. I've been one to grumble about the irony of the original Hopworks location: a bike-themed pub in a not-so-bike-friendly location. BikeBar, on the other hand, is located right on the busiest bike thoroughfare in town -- brilliant. There is a ton of bike parking behind the pub: instead of parking out front, ride down the alley from Shaver or Failing and pull in to the rear. And while the space inside is not as large as the mothership, it is laid out a lot more efficiently. The seating capacity is not that much less than on Powell, especially when the weather permits the back patio to be used.
There are ten Hopworks taps and a cask, and the menu will remind you of the original location. Kids are allowed, but it's not a play-area paradise like on Powell, which many of you might find to be very good news.
By the way, the Lompoc Sidebar next door to the BikeBar -- kudos to Hopworks for cleverly echoing their neighbor's name -- has expanded its hours in response to the friendly competition. The funky hideout lined with barrels is now open Wednesday through Saturday evenings, and Sundays noon to 7 PM (of course Lompoc 5th Quadrant around the corner is open every day). This stretch of Williams is now a great bicycle-beer destination.
Now this is a righteous concept. Does this mean they ONLY have bike parking?
ReplyDeleteYep, I biked by there today to verify. You could park a car in the alley, but there is no parking lot, no marked parking spaces for cars, just lots of bike parking.
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