Beijing Boyce

Update: The full press release re ownership changes at Q Bar — I have yet to talk to George Zhou about the situation (by the way, I popped in to Q last night and it looked like business as usual — I tried an Alfonso Special, a Dirty Martini, and a GE, all of them good):

Q Bar announces ownership restructure.

Beijing’s leading cocktail lounge, Q Bar announces today a restructuring of its ownership. Since opening at the top of the Eastern Inn in Sanlitun South Street in 2006, Q Bar has established a solid reputation as one of Beijing’s best nightspots with its imaginitive drinks menu, bar food and a spectacular rooftop terrace. Ralph Ziegenhorn and Echo Sun, two of the original partners at Q Bar have now taken over the share of George Zhou, the third original partner. The move is an amicable parting of the ways based on differing views of the future of the company and the partners’ management styles, and marks Ralph and Echo’s commitment to the ongoing development of the Q Bar brand and offering.

The two partners assure loyal patrons that it will be business as usual at Q Bar; we will continue to serve the same imaginative, high quality drinks and bar food to a soundtrack of hip lounge music including funk and electronica, and with the summer fast approaching, Q Bar’s extraordinary roof terrace will soon be coming into its own as the premier outdoor lounge space in Beijing. Details of our forthcoming events and ongoing developments will be available online at www.qbarbeijing.com

Original post

The months-long disharmony among the owners of Q Bar has been painful for their long-time friends and customers, but a deal has now been reached that will see partners Ralph Ziegenhorn and Echo Sun buy the share of partner George Zhou, says Ziegenhorn. [Clarification: In case my initial post was unclear, the deal is signed and the funds made available to Zhou, says Ziegenhorn.] He adds that Q Bar will issue a press release in a few hours.

My earliest experiences in the Beijing bar scene involved Sun and Zhou, when they were fledgling bartenders at cozy First Cafe–run by Keiko Shirata and Roger Houng in a building  that once stood behind The Rickshaw–just over five years ago. They had just started making the martinis that would propel them to fame. I remember spending many a night enjoying the cocktails as well as helping them remove their belongings from their second venture, Midnight, after friction with the landlord, getting together in my apartment with them for whiskey tasting or cocktail making sessions, my first and only Beijing bartending gig when Echo and I tended bar at a party,  checking out potential venues with them, spending at least part of nearly every New Year’s Eve at their bar, and… well, the list goes on. It will strange to no longer see them on the same team.

A photo essay from those early First Cafe days…

Union Bar & Grille in Sanlitun Village seeks entry-level employees to “learn the business from the ground up.” These include bartender openings: customer service experience a plus, English language skills required, and–this is my addition–Guinness-pouring skills essential. Union also seeks wait staff, receptionists, prep workers, line cooks, and dishwashers. For more information, visit Union and ask for Andy or Angel between 2 PM and 6 PM.

The Sanlitun branch of Blue Frog is seeking a manager. Duties include purchasing, scheduling, cost and control, and floor management, among others. (I would add: Working your butt off on Monday nights during the burger, burger special — try the spicy chicken burger.) Management experience in a Western restaurant is a must and English and Mandarin skills are preferred. Those interested should send a resume to troy@bluefrog.com.cn.

Anyone seen Tongli Studio lately? What was once a sheer brick wall now has more holes than a cat with nine asses. First, a strip was knocked out to add windows for Biteapitta. Then more holes were created on the third floor, both at front and at back, for some kind of upcoming Japanese restaurant thingamajingy. Then windows were added to White Rabbit, presumably so blurry-eyed dancers can check out the 5 AM Tongli Street action. And down at ground level, Aperitivo is going through a major redesign.

Jackson Bai–OUR Jackson Bai, affable bar man for more than nine years in Beijing–is leaving for a place where nobody knows your name, where everybody asks your occupation within 30 seconds of meeting, and where at least — to be confirmed — seven out of ten residents smell like soup. That’s right: Shanghai. Pop into Tun this Saturday at 10 PM for Bai’s bye bye party. And if you really care, rather than just pretend to care like some kind of Shanghai people that Jackson will soon be meeting over and over again, bring him a T-shirt!

The boys behind Stumble Inn planned to take over the space below Luga’s Villa and turn it into a new joint with a sports angle. But the boys behind Luga’s Villa made a deal with the landlord first, and guess what they are putting in that space? If you are a student of the bar scene, or even have two brain cells to rub together, then you guessed right: a new joint with a sports angle.  What are the odds? Anyway, this place failed most recently as a wine bar (Boutique) and a club (Mingle), but maybe it can make succeed with a pool table and a long bar– and a deck out front. Given that Lee Mitchell is now on the Luga’s team after a stint as manager of the Sanlitun branch of Blue Frog, I suggest calling it Leega’s.

The “for rent” sign at The Rickshaw came down a few days ago and word is the place has been snatched up. The dealers who hang out nearby must be eagerly awaiting developments as I don’t imagine the average patron from The Bookworm are the right type of afficionado. Anyway, more details on this space as they become available…

Bye bye Bai