Sal Nuccio wants The Tavern to be Old Munichburg’s neighborhood bar.
Nuccio opened the bar in mid-May at 130 E. Dunklin St., on the corner of Dunklin and Madison streets that many most associate with Jefferson City’s south side neighborhood.
“There hasn’t been a place that’s just a ‘bar’ bar with nightlife in that neighborhood for several years,” said Nuccio, who has owned Eastside Tavern in Columbia for more than 20 years.
The Tavern is just that — a bar that’s focused on being a bar.
It doesn’t have a kitchen, but customers are welcome to order in their own food from other establishments, and limited snack options are available.
The building formerly housed the Capital City Farmers Market and, before that, the Welcome Inn Again restaurant. With a pool table greeting customers up front, Nuccio converted its kitchen to a game room with pinball and video games.
“I had to find something that was a turn-key operation,” he said.
The Tavern hosted its first karaoke night last Thursday, and Nuccio plans to add live music and comedy nights in the coming months.
The bar will hold a grand opening July 13, with Columbia band Disengaged performing at 8 p.m.
Nuccio has also dedicated space at The Tavern for an art gallery. Currently displaying work by Shawn Pope of nearby Old Town Tattoo, he hopes other local artists — especially those with an eye for the “bizarre” — will approach him about displaying and selling artwork at The Tavern.
The Tavern opens at 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and at 8 p.m. Saturdays. It’s closed Sundays and Mondays.
California Dollar General to close for remodel
California Dollar General at 1021 W. Buchanan St. is scheduled to close for remodeling work this week. The store will close at 5 p.m. today and reopen at 7 a.m. Thursday.
A limited selection of cold and frozen items are available. An expansion of 31 cooler doors, almost three times the current amount, will be installed.
“With an an updated layout and design, the store will offer expanded frozen and refrigerated food offerings in addition to the same categories, brands and products customers trust Dollar General to carry,” Dollar General spokeswoman Angela Petkovic said.
A new location is under construction at 1523 Ashbury Way in Wardsville. A grand opening is slated for fall 2019 depending on the construction, she added.
Customers are excited for the expansion in California.
“I think progress is always good,” Jeannie Imhoff said.
Some customers questioned the quality of products and the possible competition it would create in town.
Richard Goans shops at the store regularly. He said the expansion will help the business. Grocery stores in the area may have to be more competitive.
Resident Karen Jenkins said she likes the idea of the store becoming a “one-stop shop.”
Know of any business happenings around Jefferson City? Let us know at [email protected].