Stoddard's (not the cutlery shop) - any info?

[DoubleMan]

I just read this and was really surprised I had not heard of it before.

http://boston.grubstreet.com/2009/10/...

Does anyone have more info? Who will be the head bartender?

[PaulB]

On the beverage front, myself and other local craft beer nerds are concerned about the plan for 5 cask ales at all times. Keeping casks in proper condition and temp is a challenge, and they should not be sitting around too long.

The location is not favorable IMO, seems like a destination place that may be dead on weekends.

When I think local luminaries I think Ernie Boch Jr.!

[StriperGuy]

Come on DOWN!

[PinchOfSalt]

The more I think about it, the more it seems to me that this establishment is much more about marketing than anything one might ingest.

[The Chowhound Team]

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[yumyum]

Somewhat predictably, this part of the grub street article really pisses me off:

200 male Boston luminaries have been invited to pay the fee become founding members, spokesperson Chris Lyons tells Grub Street, and, as members, they can access the Friday Club whenever they like — and, since the club will open for members during off-hours, we do mean whenever they like. Women will only be allowed in the Friday Club as guests of the male members.

SRSLY?

[galleygirl]

Ahhh, the classy endeavors we can always count on the Lyons group for...

[MC Slim JB]

Chris Lyons is a local independent PR person who represents many different restaurants.

Patrick Lyons of the Lyons Group is indeed in the restaurant business (Game On, Bleacher Bar, many others) but is now out of the nightclub business (sold his Lansdowne St clubs early this year). Stoddard's isn't one of his: it's owned by William Ashmore and Rosemary Lucas, the people who own Ivy across the street.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[galleygirl]

I was all set to post "My bad!", which it was, but I decided they should both all be tarred and feathered with the same brush

[Gordough]

Doesn't the Lyons Group own/operate all of the Kings entertainment establishments? While they aren't traditional nightclubs, they are certainly more entertainment venues than restaurant ones.

[MC Slim JB]

Lyons Group does own the Kingses, which are not live-music or discotheque-type venues, more a bowling alley/lounge concept. It also owns or part-owns the La Verdads, Alibi, Scampo, the Summer Shacks, Harvard Gardens, Sonsie, Lucky's, and some others I'm forgetting.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

And there goes any interest I have in ever going to Stoddard's. Or, for that matter, Ivy. They really think that's acceptable? Really?

[yumyum]

Oh how I wish your original comment had stayed. I think it was much more illustrative of the problem here.

Apparently it is acceptable under the law. I can't wait to get a load of the "luminaries" who will pay for such privileges.

[DoubleMan]

Doesn't it seem that the real purpose is to get around the normal 2am last call and create an after-hours bar?

I just don't see that flying under the law. Maybe the law can be interpreted to disallow this sort of private club to function within a normal restaurant - maybe it can't get two different legal treatments for the same locale.

[MC Slim JB]

I think it's highly unlikely that Stoddard's would try to flout laws against serving liquor outside of licensed hours, even when they operate after-hours as a private club. Two reasons: a) any after-hours club gets a lot of scrutiny from the authorities for just these sorts of violations, and b) doing so would put their regular-hours license at risk, which would almost certainly kill their business plan.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[hiddenboston]

The opening date for this place keeps getting pushed back. Hopefully we're not dealing with another C.F. Donovan's in Hyde Park here.

[MC Slim JB]

It is owned by the Ivy Restaurant people across the street. And if I recall correctly, it's in the location of the former Stoddard's cutlery shop.

The question in my mind is whether it will be doing a real craft cocktail program, or just going through the motions with some recipes in the style of places like No. 9 and Green Street but none of the skill or passion. Post 390 is an example of the latter: not a good trend.

http://mcslimjb.blogspot.com/

[yarm]

I am curious as to what bartenders are behind this (I haven't heard a thing in the bar world about it and I usually hear at least a name or two when a new place opens up). Someone obviously gave a decent amount of thought to the cocktail menu with a lot of focus on classic cocktails. Even with the brainpower behind it, running a consistent bar program with every one well trained is a bit of a challenge (such as why I had a horrible experience at the Marliave but others had decent ones or at least varying good and bad ones).

[ponyboy]

You really nailed it there. I look forward to my membership invite to the Gentleman's Club.

[ponyboy]

>The Brooklyn
>Old Overholt Rye, Dry Vermouth, Amer Picon, Luxardo Maraschino, Stirred

Wonder where they are getting the Picon from...

[yarm]

No. 9 Park has both varieties of Amer Picon. I believe they found a way to ship a case or two over from Europe. So perhaps they used similar channels.