Local bar works to expand space

A Muncie bar that is growing in popularity may also start to grow in size by summer's end.

 

Savage's Ale House holds a capacity of 60 people already, but owner Joel Savage said it's just not enough space.

 

"Once we started to get packed regularly, we knew we wanted to expand, we just wanted to wait until we felt comfortable signing a long-term lease and had some extra money," he said.

 

Savage said he was ready to expand a while ago, but his plans stalled after he went through a divorce.

 

"It definitely slowed down the process a bit and took all my extra money," he said.

 

Now Savage is back up on his feet financially and ready to expand the restaurant.

 

Savage said he plans on not only adding more seating, but a game room including a pool table, foosball and a pinball machine.

 

The current restaurant area will then be used for dining and drinking only.

 

All it would take for Savage to expand his business is removing a few walls to open the space up, but he said there is no rush.

 

"[During] summers here, students are gone so things are slower than usual," he said. "We're not as desperate for space."

 

The bar and restaurant, which is located on High Street, is one of three commercial spaces.

 

Savage said he hopes to expand into the commercial space next to him that is occupied by Muncie Living Life Clean.

 

Muncie Living Life Clean rehabilitation center was supposed to move into the commercial space of an old law office, but it needs to be renovated before they can do so comfortably.

 

Savage said his landlord John Bellegrin lives in California and doesn't have the time or money to visit Muncie and negotiate.

 

"The biggest hold up is he doesn't want to pay the money to renovate the lawyers' office for them," he said.

 

Trying to speed up the process Savage also offered to pay for the construction work he would need to renovate his business.

 

Even though he is still trying to negotiate with his landlord, Savage said he does plan to do some work on his business this summer.

 

Savage's Ale House will work on an outside patio as well as some other small changes to the building.

 

Savage said he doesn't know for sure when the expansion will happen, but he is eager to make the changes.

 

"If I could do it tomorrow, I would," he said.


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