by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
New furniture, new bar tops, a new Monday-Friday lunch special and a new schedule of regular evening events. Those are some of what you’ll notice at Northstar Substation on East Bay Street if you haven’t been there lately.
There’s also a new face at the restaurant. Andrea Koralewski initally started working at Northstar as the weekend cashier. “I started taking on more responsibilities,” she said. That led to her also managing Northstar’s website and social media and recently, Koralewski has become a partner in the business.
Kris Kiger remembers the day he opened the pizza and beer venue, Oct. 25, 2008, a few days before the Florida-Georgia football crowd descended on Downtown. He said he thinks the restaurant has been successful because of consistency and always adding items that the customers want. It’s also where clubgoers can find something to eat in the Entertainment District after 10 p.m., he said.
Northstar has recently been completely remodeled. The old booths inherited from the previous owners have been replaced by high-top tables and padded chairs, almost doubling the seating capacity in the restaurant. The bar tops have also been renovated in preparation for a liquor license to add full bar service to Northstar’s 32 draft beer taps.
Kiger said the Monday-Thursday happy hour from 4-7 p.m. has been a way to introduce the Downtown market to Bold City beers and ale.
“Everybody likes it and it’s local,” he said.
Northstar has added trivia to the weekly schedule Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m., then every Friday evening the Mad Cowford improv group performs. Future additions include Saturday night karaoke and steel-tipped darts, both suggestions from customers, said Kiger.
On the social media side, Koralewski said Northstar has more than 400 Facebook friends and a twice weekly e-mail blast keeps customers up to date on drink specials and events like Art Walk.
The restaurant began offering a $5 lunch special to City employees and people who work in the courthouse a few blocks away. It proved to be so popular that the offer has been expanded to all customers. Choices include pizza, salads and sandwiches with chips and a soft drink.
Kiger said Northstar’s first 21 months have been filled with “pleasant surprises,” particularly when he thinks about the timing of opening a new restaurant during a recession.
“We didn’t know what a risk it would be, but we have managed to push through the economic crisis,” he said. “I guess that’s the power of pizza and beer.”
For the menu and complete schedule of events, visit www.northstarsubstation.com.
Koralewski gets a pizza ready to go into the brick oven.
The restaurant has received a complete face-lift. New tables and chairs have replaced the original booths and the seating capacity has more than doubled.
356-2466