Restaurant Renewal
Mann, sons open Off Broadway
at former Joeyg's location
New Taproom offers many craft beers, live music
(February 2015) – Madison, Ind. is a town bursting with musical talent. It is a city that appreciates its local bands, and residents will now have another venue to both showcase and experience this talent. Off Broadway Taproom will feature both local and non-regional bands.
Off Broadway Taproom, located at 218 E. Main St., is the former JoeyG’s Restaurant & Nightclub. As reported in a previous RoundAbout article, Libby Mann purchased the nightclub in May 2013 from Joe Gayles’ widow, Cheri Gayles, who continued to run the restaurant after her husband’s death from kidney disease on Oct. 27, 2012 at age 54.
“When the building came up for sale, somebody was going to buy it,” explains Mann, who also owns the Historic Broadway Hotel & Tavern. “It was an addition to what we already own, the Broadway. But it would be a nightclub atmosphere.”
“We had been in the business a long time,” adds Ryan Shaw, Mann’s son who will run the Taproom. “We wanted to get the building before someone else did.”
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Photo by Alyssa DelPrete Ryan Shaw manages the new Off Broadway Taproom on Madison's Main Street. |
The restaurant features a unique but affordable menu, with all items under $6. Appetizers include pretzels with beer cheese and homemade chips. The Taproom also offers three different types of paninis and a chicken and waffle sandwich. The bar has 16 beers on tap with a focus on craft beers.
“We’re getting a lot of local and regional beers. We might try to get brewers to come in and have a ‘meet the brewers’ night,” Shaw said. “Our menu will have a lot of different things on there that you can’t really get anywhere else.”
Extensive renovation went into the building before its opening. The bar was completely redone.
Additionally, the building’s plumbing was updated, the kitchen was redone and new coolers were installed to contain all of the beers the bar will offer. A major part of the remodeling, however, was the new theme for the restaurant.
“The theme is the history of hydroplane racing in Madison,” Mann shares.
“We’re adding lots of memorabilia from hydroplane racing in Madison. We have lots of old Madison Regatta photos and posters on the walls. We have some pictures of the movie Miss Madison and pictures from when Madison won the gold cup race in the 1970s that people have donated to us that will be on the walls.”
Included in the hydroplane decor is the boat known as the Y-3 Century 21 special that was driven by former Miss Madison-Oh Boy Oberto driver Steve David when he set the world record in 1981 for the 850cc class in it at 102.263 mph. The record was never broken. It stood until the American Power Boat Association discontinued the class in 1995.
Despite the many changes, the Off Broadway Taproom has retained some of the pieces from its former owner. Controversy sparked when Mann debated removing a mural in the restaurant painted by local artist Patty Cooper Wells.
“We got a lot of Facebook chatter on it,” Mann said.
They decided that the mural should stay, along with other paintings Wells created on the walls of the bathrooms. The artwork features depictions of Elvis Presley, Billie Holiday and other renowned musicians.
“We have very interesting bathrooms!” Mann said.
A major focus of the Off Broadway Taproom will be its live music entertainment. Tuesday nights will be Open Mic nights, hosted by Jimmy Davis, a local talent. Bands will be scheduled to play on the weekends.
“We kind of got a late start since we didn’t know when we would be opening,” Mann said. “But we’re getting started booking our bands.”
They plan to have musicians from outside of the region from cities such as Nashville, Tenn., Cincinnati, and Chicago, while also featuring local bands.
“There are a lot of musicians in Madison,” Shaw explains. “And there will be a variety of types of music.”
Plans have also been discussed to have a Hanover College DJ night, showcasing Hanover College students. A band from the college, Room for Molly, has also been booked for a few Wednesday shows.
“We’re open to suggestions if people want to call with suggestions of bands they’ve heard,” Mann said. “On Open Mic nights, we will listen to groups that want to come down and play, and will contact them if we’re interested.”
The Doctors Band played at the Taproom on the unofficial opening night on Nov. 25. The restaurant has had a couple of concert nights since then. The restaurant is non-smoking and open to those under 21.