Even though some businesses have had to temporarily move out of the Village, a new one will make its debut in just a few weeks.
Chris Ellison, owner of Red Bird and Cleo’s Bourbon Bar, will open a new bar in the former Chaos clothing boutique next to The Locker Room.
“We’re calling this bar Lola’s Tiny Tiki Lounge,” he said.
The tiki lounge will open jointly with Cleo’s and Red Bird’s new temporary location at the end of August.
The layout of the Cleo’s and Red Bird’s will also be redeveloped as they move into the former Discount Den location.
“Cleo’s and Red Bird will be one big, U-shaped bar where the left side is Red Bird and the right side is Cleo’s,” Ellison said. “If you took Cleo’s and Red Bird where they were and took out that center wall, that’s what this will be.”
Customers will be able to go to a counter, similar to a fast-food restaurant, and order their drinks and food specials from both bars, all from one menu.
The idea to combine the two businesses came partly from Ellison noticing overflow in their former locations.
“It was kinda funny because every night we would close Cleo’s down, we would find Red Bird fish bowls in Cleo’s and Cleo’s cups in Red Bird,” he said. “We were just like, ‘Screw it, let’s just combine it all.’”
Other businesses that occupied space on the now-demolished block won’t return to the Village this year.
Cardinal cupcakes & coneys moved out of its Village location and will only have one location on McGalliard Road until the University Square redevelopment is finished.
“We have not signed any leases or done anything like that yet,” said Melissa Bucur, owner of cardinal cupcakes & coneys.
Oh Fusion Japanese Restaurant and Q.L.’s, which formerly shared space with Grandma Betty’s Ice Cream Shop, also will not return to the Village.
The Cleo’s and Red Bird location will change again after the new facility that will replace the old Village Square Mall is completed.
Ellison said he already planned and negotiated spots within the structure in May and will submit a plan for the actual design of the space by April 2014. Developers at Investment Property Advisors, who are building the structure, said they haven’t received any letters of intent yet,
“We’ve already made that step with Cleo’s and Red Bird and already know how much rent we are paying and our time frame we are looking at.” Ellison said.
According to his agreement with developers, the second move and reopening of Cleo’s and Red Bird will be completed by Aug. 1, 2014.
