Crown Street has a new tavern — one of whose owners has been a vocal opponent of downtown’s rowdy late-night scene. He said he’ll bring “maturity” to the district.
Josh Erlanger, who joined public cries this past year for better police enforcement along the Crown Street artery of bars and restaurants, is putting his taps where his mouth is. He and partner Tom O’Braski opened Stella Blue this past week, as nostalgic in name as it is open in atmosphere.
The bar’s moniker is an homage to the Grateful Dead, one of the dozen bands that have their vinyl jackets inlaid in the bar’s countertop surface (pictured).
“We’re catering to a more mature crowd,” said Erlanger explaining the classic rock theme, along with Stella’s homey disposition. Nikkita Restaurant and the bar’s other neighbors create a calmer element of Crown Street’s atmosphere, Erlanger clarified. The strip’s bars and clubs come attached with a notorious reputation of outdoor noise and raucous crowds. He indicated one side of Crown’s invisible spectrum in the air — “Kids” — and the opposite side, “Adults.”
The bar will feature Nikkita’s menu, in case the bar’s selection of Hot Pockets (three-dollar special with a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon) doesn’t satisfy.
Given his participation in the nightclub-skeptical downtown management team, Erlanger said, he carries an “interesting perspective in owning a bar in this atmosphere.” There aren’t any outdoor speakers in front of the bar’s nook at 204 Crown St.
And to eradicate the arithmetic in analyzing a customer I.D.‘s, he invested in a card scanner. (Erlanger is pictured with it.)
Upon reading the identification, the scanner indicates the cardholder’s age and eligibility to purchase alcohol or tobacco. It alerts the operator in case the card has come through more than once.
“[These touches] make it more adult, and very local. It’ll be a place where everyone knows each other,” Erlanger predicted. “Like Cheers!”
Stella Blue offers flavored mojitos as an alternative to the margaritas at nearby bars, Erlanger said.
A recent Yale graduate, Kristen Stupay, tended the bar. “It’s definitely more of a neighborhood bar,” she said. “New Haven has a lot of clubs, but doesn’t have many places where you would know the people or the bartender.”
“We’re a little bit smaller, with a nice and comforting atmosphere,” Erlanger said and motioned at the four televisions adhered to the walls. Thick black armchairs are cozied in the window nook; elevated tables and chairs line the walls. “We’re not a sports bar, but it’s enough to see the game, hang out and be friendly.”
The bar enjoyed a soft opening with family and friends last Wednesday evening, and is now open to the general public.
Sounds like a cool new place. Nice to see a local person owning something downtown, it makes me happy to hear people are invested in their community. Good luck with the new bar!