Mynt Martini opened on New Years Eve 2009, ringing in the new year with an assortment of martini's and mixed drinks, and showcasing its decor in a pattern of green and blue hues. Located on Fountain Square in the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mynt caters to those who want to be part of the "IN-CROWD!" Or as much as their Twitter feed exclaims, at the least. Their mixed-case messages, such as "HaPpY hOuR at MyNt" is killing my obsessive compulsive nature, too.
Interior of Mynt Martini, photograph by 5chw4r7z.
But the perceived exclusivity of Mynt has raised a good question: Why begin an establishment in the heart of downtown that is surmised to cater only to the wealthy, popular or to the inner-circle? While it may not align with either of those demographics, its daily updates on its feeds leads little else to the imagination. It psychologically segregates the clientele and creates this false upper crust, even if it does not physically restrict anyone from entering, much like Biff's on Walnut in Over-the-Rhine.
A few clamored that we need more venues like Mynt to dance and have great mixed drinks, but I believe that we achieved that a long time ago, and have been repeating ourselves for years.
The Red Cheetah, located at 1133 Sycamore Street in downtown, billed itself as a "premiere club," with "lines of club-goers waiting to get in nearly every weekend night." It was a "high-energy" club with "VIP seating areas, bold red carpets and cheetah motifs" that attracted the "twentysomething crowd" who wanted to sip designer drinks. It opened in 2004 but closed after a brief stint in October 2006, missed by few because of the type of crowds it attracted.
Not surprising, Club Red opened in Red Cheetah's space on May 4, 2007, catering to much of the same clientele. As a side note, Club Red is not the same as Club Red, a young professionals group affiliated with the Cincinnati Area Chapter of the Red Cross.
Just down the block was Japp's at 1134 Main Street, billed more as a neighborhood bar with no dancing shows, live music or outrageous drink prices. It offered distinctive cigars and martinis, and catered to the single, young professionals of the city. But it too closed after a brief stint, it's vacant shell still haunting the former entertainment district of Over-the-Rhine.
Anyone remember Bar Cincinnati?
Or what about The Spy Club at 301 West Fifth Street? You may not have been cool enough for the "sophisticated dance club" where the crowd attempted to be as hip as the surroundings, but it featured old-fashioned chandeliers and vintage furniture while blasting techno music. But like many that attempted to melt the candle too quickly, it shuttered after just a brief stint in downtown.
I guess it would be fair to add in Motion Nightlife at Longworth Hall, but it didn't last long after the parties grew out of control and especially after a nightclub promoter raped three women.
What distinguishes these establishments over the what is arguably the best and longest-lasting venues, clubs and bars in Cincinnati? Namely, Arnold's, the Blue Wisp and Bogart's, and a few others that have been with the city as long as many have been alive?
They don't try too hard to distinguish themselves as being the premiere location in the city, and they don't push exclusive (and elusive) access and VIP lounges. And they certainty don't attempt to grandstand other venues in the city. They present themselves as being open to everyone, whether it is for the young professional or to the hipster, people who come and go can find their own niche and fit naturally, without the assistance of overly-aggressive promoters and highly-inflated media pieces.
Arnold's is the oldest operating bar in the city, opening in 1861. It features Italian-American fare at reasonable prices, offers drinks that are affordable and consistent, and has live music several nights a week in their courtyard. It has never tried to push its identity onto others, nor does it pounce on the latest trends, hence why it has been around as long as it has.
Blue Wisp has been around since 1978, and offers one of the best jazz venues in the region. Music plays out seven nights a week, and a 16-piece in-house big band plays every Wednesday. But their direct marketing is almost non-existent, living on word-of-mouth and its reputation.
And Bogart's is just one of those establishments that everyone should at least pay a visit to, given that it has been on the scene since the mid-1970s. It can host some of the best metal and punk that roll through the mid-west, and yet, like Arnold's and the Blue Wisp, it keeps a low profile. No flashy establishments, no exclusive access, just a great reputation. Not even a permanent web-site!
It takes years to establish your name and become a permanent institution in Cincinnati, much like any other city. To use the analogy that I referenced above, those locations that live and die by the latest trends, drinks or decor, while pushing and catering to a particular lifestyle through aggressive advertising, only melt the candle that much faster. Rarely do these places last more than five years, done in by their excessive popularity at the start and an inevitable and predictable dwindle by a crowd that seeks out the next place to be seen.
And to what excess do we have with these places? We had a bustling and rather short-lived entertainment district on Main Street in Over-the-Rhine, before shifting to the Walnut Street corridor. Prior to that, it was along the waterfront and in areas near the stadiums. But as downtown's population nears 10,000, and as over 1,000 new units are expected to be under construction within the next two years, shouldn't we be focusing on opening lasting commercial venues that cater to the residents, and not to a rather transient crowd? Build for the residents, and you'll attract many more.
And one of those places that opened today is Abby Girl Sweets Cupcakery! Congratulations and welcome!
Thanks for the mention and trackback, Cincinnati Blog!
I wouldn't really add Bogarts to the list, aside from when it's open to host concerts, I don't believe their bar is open. Haven't been there since 2006 though. I can see why you have no interest in going to Mynt. Went by there on New Years Eve and from checking their site and twitter it just doesn't seem like my type of place. If others want to go there cool, I think it looks pretty good over at the corner of Fountain Square. I think it's worth giving it a shot at least once too. Arnold's is still my favorite, though.