CHELSEA — A bar and restaurant serving up “higher-end” comfort food plans to open in time to throw a Super Bowl party for the neighborhood, its owner said.
The Chelsea Bell is moving into a space at 316 Eighth Ave., between West 25th and West 26th streets, that housed a short-lived World of Beer outpost, owner Brendan Donoghue said.
Though Donoghue also operates John Sullivan’s Bar and Grill and Jack Doyle’s Pub and Restaurant — both Irish pubs — on West 35th Street, the bar will focus more on “American bar comfort food,” he said.
“We’re Irish-owned, but we’re not necessarily becoming an Irish bar,” he said.
The bar will more closely resemble watering holes like Jasper’s Taphouse and Kitchen and Alfie’s Bar and Kitchen in Hell’s Kitchen, serving “higher-end appetizers,” sandwiches, salads and other entrees, he said.
Televisions throughout the bar will broadcast sporting events including the Super Bowl if the restaurant opens in January as planned, he said.
Until recently, World of Beer had signs hanging in its window saying it planned to reopen after it closed in March, but Donoghue said he was finalizing the lease for the space this week.
World of Beer did not immediately respond to request for comment on Wednesday.
The Chelsea Bell will serve up craft beers, American beers, Irish beers and mixed drinks, Donoghue said.
“It’s just going to have a fun feel,” he said. “We’re really targeting people in the neighborhood.”
