Downtown Cincinnati to Welcome New Cocktail and Sushi Bar Fall 2022

Expanding the city’s dining and nightlife scenes, Baru expected to open in the Central Business District later this year

CINCINNATI (Sept. 15, 2022) – Hospitality management company Further Concepts and Investors, in partnership with the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC), announces a new cocktail and sushi bar coming to Downtown Cincinnati this fall – Baru, which means “bar” in Japanese. Located next door to Tokyo Kitty, one of the city’s most vibrant and popular karaoke establishments, Baru is expected to open in late 2022.

An elevated dining experience with an atmosphere to match, Baru will provide an energetic late night cocktail scene. With a plush environment, warm woods, and deep lighting, Baru will welcome socializers and sushi lovers alike into a premier nightlife experience awash in Tokyo aesthetics. According to owner Tyler Wogenstahl, Baru’s atmosphere was inspired by izakaya, or the beloved Japanese establishments where one can stay, drink, and unwind with friends long into the night.

Baru’s food and dining concepts will be led by Nashville-based Chef Robert Grace, whose previous accolades include: the Nashville Scene’s Iron Fork Audience Award, as well as Best Steak, Best of the Best, and Best Restaurants from Nashville Lifestyles. During his tenure as Director of Culinary Operations for Nashville’s M Street, he “graced” the menus of five other M Street concepts, from Italian cuisine at Moto, Japanese at Virago, and the inspired Mexican cuisine of Saint Anejo. Chef Grace brings a rich and varied skill set to his role at Baru, which patrons will be able to experience firsthand through Omakase or “chef’s choice” – a fine dining staple and Baru experience.

“We can’t express how excited we are about Baru,” said Wogenstahl. “We want it to be more than a restaurant – we want it to be an experience. Cincinnati is evolving and we hope Baru helps redefine what it means to have a night out downtown.”

3CDC, which is currently working to strengthen Downtown Cincinnati’s Convention Center District, is a key partner in the launch of Baru alongside Wogenstahl. The non-profit developer had been in search of the right operator and concept for its 4,600-square-foot space at the corner of 6th and Race streets and found it in Wogenstahl and Baru. The exciting new concept will join Downtown staples Mita’s, Maplewood Kitchen & Bar, Americano Burger Bar, and Tokyo Kitty in the 84.51° building, which is just a block from the Duke Energy Convention Center and Fountain Square in either direction.

“Downtown has long been in need of an elevated sushi concept and we’re excited to have Baru fill that void,” said Lindzie Gunnels, senior commercial leasing officer at 3CDC. “We’re always looking for new operators to partner with, and Tyler Wogenstahl has a proven track record of success. This new concept will perfectly complement the other businesses in the area and will keep the positive momentum going that we’ve seen the past several months.”

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ABOUT FURTHER CONCEPTS AND INVESTORS

Further Concepts and Investors is a hospitality management company dedicated to evolving hospitality into unique and meaningful experiences for each and every guest.

Further Concepts and Investors is also a marketing, event production company specializing in the restaurant, nightlife, concerts, entertainment, and hospitality industries. From producing concerts with the music industry’s biggest stars to partnering with restaurants and bars to achieve their marketing goals, Further Concepts and Investors excels in creating, planning, consulting, and executing successful events, campaigns, and strategies for a variety of clients. Further Management and Productions, a division of Further Concepts and Investors, is a full-service event production company experienced in planning, marketing, and executing concerts, festivals, and special events. Since 2005, FMP has produced over 500 events in over a dozen cities around the United States. Leadership Team comprised of experienced, innovative, unique, and talented individuals.

ABOUT 3CDC

The Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC) is a private, non-profit full-service real estate developer with a mission and strategic focus to strengthen the core assets of Downtown Cincinnati in partnership with the City of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati corporate community. Its work is specifically focused on revitalizing and connecting the Central Business District and Over-the-Rhine. For more information, visit http://www.3cdc.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

Joe Rudemiller, 3CDC, (513) 253-9088, jrudemiller@3cdc.org

Bian Kitzmiller, Reveal Concepts, (513) 375-6551, brian@revealconcepts.com