Jefferson City's newest live music venue is on its way this spring - just a few months later than planned.
The Bridge, which announced plans last fall to relocate its Columbia concert venue to Avenue HQ in Jefferson City, is aiming for a soft opening by March 1.
"When we got past the demolition, stripping everything out and getting down to the plumbing and what really the bones of the building needed, then we had to get into a different permit," owner Wes Wingate explained.
The new permit was necessary to address The Bridge's planned full-service bar, which the building's zoning didn't provide for - and which "was evidently a surprise to everyone," Wingate said. "Essentially we had to either scrap the project or rezone the building."
Now a few months and a few city meetings later, The Bridge's 5,000-square-foot portion of the building at 621 E. Capitol Ave. - on Avenue HQ's lower level - is properly permitted, and construction has moved to plumbing and electricity, which is especially important for The Bridge in terms of speakers and concert equipment.
Once those aspects are ready, "we'll finish the walls and we'll be ready to go," Wingate said.
Since opening in late 2010 in Columbia, The Bridge has been a hub for local bands as well as nationally touring musicians playing rock, country, jazz, blues and more.
Without a firm opening date set, Wingate isn't ready to announce The Bridge's inaugural musical acts just yet.
"We've definitely got some artists ready to play whenever we get open," he said. "I have hard dates booked in late March."
He plans to announce a formal grand opening in March.
The venue will offer a full bar serving Columbia-brewed Logboat beer exclusively on tap, along with more than 100 bottled beers and an expansive selection of bourbon, scotch and tequila.
The Bridge will operate Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings to begin with, potentially expanding to Wednesdays in the future.
"We're just looking forward to getting open. It's been a challenge, but good things are worth waiting for," Wingate said.
Entertainment complex Avenue HQ, opened by Holly Stitt and Quinten Rice in 2015, offers its own 3,000-square-foot main hall for events and is also home to Scene One Theatre.
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