Dylan Brogan
Ben Altschul
Progress continues on the transformation of the former Grieg Club, 610 North St., into the North Street Cabaret.
The new entertainment venue is the latest endeavor from Ben Altschul, proprietor of the Tip Top Tavern, just across North Street. Altschul purchased the Grieg Club site last summer. A near total gutting of the building is currently under way.
The design of the space will center around a large, crescent-shaped stage that will be framed by thick curtains and include an integrated sound and light system. A long bar stage right will extend to a new main entrance, off the adjacent Mayer Avenue. A soft opening is slated for late summer.
“It will be an intimate setting,” Altschul says. “It won’t be a space where you can feel lost.” Capacity is expected to be around 100 people.
The Grieg Club was a private social club; it closed its doors for good in July 2015.
Altschul says the North Street Cabaret will feature a diverse array of programming including theatrical performances, comedy shows, film screenings, story slams, fashion affairs, DJs, tasting events and music acts. The plan is to offer entertainment Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from early evening until bartime. The rest of the week, it will be open for private parties and community events.
Most nights, the kitchen will offer “local, healthy-focused” cuisine, says Altschul, as well as full bar service. The menu and cocktail selection will change frequently and be customized for individual shows.
“We want the space to serve as a gathering place for community meetings and to foster conversations about important neighborhood issues,” says Altschul.
