Yeah, of course you are.

 

I know of a great building in Northside that's about to go on the market, a very nice investment in a neighborhood that's getting cooler by the day. The building has a successful paying tenant that can more than cover your mortgage costs.

 

That right, 3929 Spring Grove Ave. in Northside, the property that is home to alchemize, is entertaining offers. This does not mean anything is happening to alchemize-- we're not closing or anything like that. We're only looking for a property buyer that will keep alchemize on as a tenant. We're willing to pay a very generous rent, and can secure our lease. The previous property owner is moving out of state, and is therefore looking to sell their investments here in town.

 

Just message me if you're into that sort of thing, or could be. I'll fill you in on the rest of the details. This is a truly great investment, lots of money has been put into the place over the last year, and its been appraised very high. So get on this, all you real estate buyers!

 

Oh, and hey-- check out this amazing front fold story in today's Enquirer about alchemize and Girls & Boys:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070320/LIFE/703200313/1086

Nick,

 

sounds like your old location is about to reopen along with Jump and several other spaces.  Yeah for Main Street huh.

 

Thanks to everyone for the support and the warm welcome!

 

I am now at the liberty to tell that Nigel Cotterill has left his partnership at Universal Grille (formerly Hamburger Mary's) to open his own place. He has taken over the old Alchemize space at 12th and Walnut and will be opening up a new bar concept for Cincinnati. Designed to fit into the neighborhood and welcome the local residents, the arts and theater groups, and people of all walks of life. This is great news as it will offer one more place to help build "community" in the Gateway Quarter........I believe he is calling the new place "Below Zero" but don't quote me on that.

 

I keep hearing buzz of other prospects in the retail spaces also. Keep your fingers crossed. The business part of the neighborhood seems to be filling as quickly as the residential sector. This project is a definite win for OTR as well as the entire city of Cincinnati.

 

Nick - congrats on doing good business in Northside - I've only heard good things about it!

 

Might I ask why you and your business partners aren't buying the building?  I'm sure nobody is as confident in your business as you guys are, and if the rent pays the mortgage, why wouldn't you want in on that yourself?

 

alchemize on the move again

(From Brian Butt's Enquirer Blog)

 

It seems one of my favorite spots in Cincinnati, alchemize, is on the move again. April 7th's Girl Talk show will be its last at the Northside location. April 6th, a collection will be taken for the bar staff.

 

All of this seems to stem from a disagreement between Nick Spencer and the owner of the property. In a MySpace Bulletin sent out this afternoon, Nick says "We are not doing so by choice, we would gladly stay there, but unfortunately, its not up to us, and our options have all been exhausted."

 

Personally, I'm bummed by the setback. The Northside spot was never perfect, but it seemed to finally be coming into its own. With the improvements made since moving in and the great sound set up they had from the beginning, it looked like it was on the verge of something.

 

I'll provide more info as it becomes available.

 

http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/popculture/default.asp

 

WTF?!?!?!  This is starting to get ridiculous...I guess the trouble just seems to follow Nick Spencer around.

A live band plays, then they play some 80's music mix CD's?  What will they think of next?!!  Moonwalk Mondays?  Tab Tuesdays? Worm Walk Wednesdays?  Thirtysomething Thursdays?  Fanny Pack Fridays?  Skelator Saturdays?  Superfly Jimmy Snuka Sundays?     

 

 

 

 

I'd be there every Sunday.

 

 

Hey Nick, why don't your relocate up here to Dayton!  We have a nice little live music here, and plenty of empty buildings you can relocate to.  I suggest the old Elbos. 

Or he could just move into the Mead Tower and turn the entire thing into "the world's largest nightclub."  I mean, it'll atleast be lit up again...

All of this seems to stem from a disagreement between Nick Spencer and the owner of the property.

WTF?!?!?!  This is starting to get ridiculous...I guess the trouble just seems to follow Nick Spencer around.

 

This is why it is never a good idea to burn bridges.  With all of the good news coming out about OTR right now, crime falling month over month, Jean-Robert announces he will be locating a restaurant in OTR, and bar after bar signing on to Main Street.

 

If you think pissed off, departing business owners who leave after horrific experiences with OTR (and let's not forget I lived there for five years, too) are what's tearing down OTR, you're out of your mind. What destroying OTR is violent crackheads bothering everyone who comes down there constantly, and city leadership that doesn't do anything about it. Until they really get serious about cleaning it up, anybody investing money down there should rethink it, because they're more than likely gonna end up getting burned. That's reality-- no one needs to spin it, or try to put things in a positive light. Until something REAL is done to clean this area up, NO ONE should be pumping money in here unless they've got it to spare.

 

June 08, 2006, 01:55:24 PM this was said, not even a year ago.  Things were changing then, and Nick said I was "spinning" reality.  Now here we are, 10 months later, Main and the rest of OTR has serious momentum behind it, and I do not even know if Nick could show his face down here again after saying what he said so publicly. 

 

I hope that he has learned a lesson--do not burn bridges-- because things do, and have changed, even without him.

    nick posted this bulletin on myspace earlier today:

    Dear Friends:

 

    Very long one, I know, but lots to say... this is the one everybody's been asking for.

 

    Barring a last minute miracle, alchemize will be leaving its location at 3929 Spring Grove in Northside on April 7th (immediately following the Girl Talk show). We are not doing so by choice, we would gladly stay there, but unfortunately, its not up to us, and our options have all been exhausted.

 

    Before I say anything else: A HUGE thank you to our amazing bar staff: Sara, Jacob, Nikki, Jilly, Seb, and Anne. They are by far the best bartenders I've ever seen, and their loyalty to alchemize is unbelieveable. The staff here really is a family. Thanks to our amazing weekend djs: Kendall, Kevin, Puck, and Mikey. Its pretty bittersweet that we just won "Best Dance Club" in the best of Cincinnati awards today, but its no surprise. These guys are insanely talented, and great friends to me as well. Thanks to Pete, Mandy, Jeremy, Sara, and Jamie, all of whom worked to make our weekdays so much fun. It was a tough job, but they did it well. Thanks to all the bands, of course. We started with Band of Horses, and we'll end with Girl Talk-- not bad at all, right? I'm very, very proud of the acts we booked-- lots of memories there. Thank you to the great neighborhood of Northside, which has been an amazing home to us-- we'll miss it so much.

 

    Most of all, thanks to YOU, our loyal customers. I have never seen a club that shares this kind of relationship with its patrons. Really, we love all of you. I know that this place is something special, that for many of you, it was more than just a place to get drunk. You're the reason we do all this.

 

    Now, on to why this happening. Basically, our property owner, who was also my business partner in alchemize, has decided that another bar can make more money in our location. Originally, he told me that he wanted to sell the building, so I went to work on putting together an offer (he gave me two weeks). Then, a week in, he reneged on that promise. He told me, eventually, that he was taking over the bar, alchemize was out, and Jason Cooper was being put in charge of a new operation in our spot.

 

    Jason, who we have helped out on a number of occassions, basically betrayed all the staff and management of alchemize. He called me two weeks before his own bar closed down, asking me for a job to help him pay his bills through some tough times. I worked it out to get him some shifts, but it turns out that's not what he was looking for. He went to my partner and bad-mouthed the bar and its staff. My partners and Jason then sat down with me, told me I was to make Jason (whom they had never even met before) the bar manager, and told me I had to cut a bartender from Friday and Saturday to make room for him. I flat-out refused to do so, and that was really the beginning of the end.

 

    alchemize was doing very well. Six months open, we were IN THE BLACK and growing, paying our bills on time and bringing in new faces. With the lineup of shows we had booked, and the courtyard opening, the place was set to explode. That's what makes this so tragic-- we were just begining to take off. But my partners are expecting to make thousands of dollars a week in profits, which just isn't realistic. Any bar owner in Northside will tell you it takes years to see real profits, and even then, its not like that. No one, including me, ever told them this place would make that kind of money. In fact, THEY never delivered the capital they promised me they would in our original partnership agreement-- that's why we have no upstairs, the courtyard isn't paved, we don't have real flooring, etc. But they're broke and desperate for cash, and so their business sense has basically been thrown out the window. I'm all for turning a profit, but I also believe in doing good work and being patient. That's the only way I've seen bars grow in this neighborhood. Let's face it, this isn't Mt. Adams.

 

    As for Jason Cooper and whatever godawful new bar he runs into the ground in our place, well, I'll only ask for one thing from all of you. DO NOT STEP FOOT IN IT. He lied, cheated, and manipulated his way into this position. He betrayed people who tried to help him, and did so without hesitation. I've never seen a more disloyal and dishonest person. Whatever the new bar is, its not alchemize-- please help us spread the word-- this will be a bar built on screwing people over, run by ruthless people who care nothing about you or this neighborhood. On top of that, they're painfully incompetent businesspeople, so I'm pretty sure this place will suck, regardless. Thankfully, the alchemize name is coming with us, so at least that won't be trashed.

 

    alchemize Northside was a huge success by any standard. On the good side, we now know that this concept does work, it can pay its bills and make money. I think everyone knows no other bar could do as well as we did in that spot, and they'll find that out soon enough. We'll be back very, very soon, and we'll work hard to make it just as special for you. This absolutely breaks my heart to write, and please help me by reposting it and getting the word out. Really, the best thing you can do is come out as much as possible over the next two weekends and show your support for alchemize.

 

    We'll be hosting a benefit for our wonderful staff on Friday, April 6th. We'll be seeking $5 donations at the door-- ALL of that money will be split among our bartenders to help them pay bills during our downtime. If you can contribute more, I'm sure they would really appreciate it. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE attend that night-- these folks have worked very hard to show you a good time, its your turn to take care of them now. Also, if you're in a band, we're looking for some talent to perform that night-- help us make this goodbye a memorable one. BTW, If you are in a band scheduled to play after April 7th, I'll be contacting you this week to run some things by you-- I'm hopeful we can pull off a smooth transition to our new location.

 

    Once again, thank you for everything. Til this is all worked out, Damn the Man, Save the Empire.

 

    Nick

    alchemize

     

 

As for Jason Cooper and whatever godawful new bar he runs into the ground in our place, well, I'll only ask for one thing from all of you. DO NOT STEP FOOT IN IT. He lied, cheated, and manipulated his way into this position. He betrayed people who tried to help him, and did so without hesitation. I've never seen a more disloyal and dishonest person. Whatever the new bar is, its not alchemize-- please help us spread the word-- this will be a bar built on screwing people over, run by ruthless people who care nothing about you or this neighborhood. On top of that, they're painfully incompetent businesspeople, so I'm pretty sure this place will suck, regardless. Thankfully, the alchemize name is coming with us, so at least that won't be trashed.

 

Nick, I've always been one of your supporters.  We've disagreed at times, but I'm quick to defend you, and even gave some hard-earned money to your campaign.  So when I say this, I'm not just some random guy trashing you...

 

But dude - this is not how adults behave.  Please, please grow up!  After reading that publicly posted paragraph, it's an embarrassment ever to have supported you.

 

But dude - this is not how adults behave.  Please, please grow up!  After reading that publicly posted paragraph, it's an embarrassment ever to have supported you.

 

lol, I though the same thing when I read this.

 

to be quite honest, I would not have any problem patronizing the new establishment, they did nothing to personally offend me...who knows, their new concept may indeed be better and more profitable than what alchemize was doing. Sadly, the nightclub industry is a VERY fast paced, cutthroat, even dishonest one, and I'd hope Nick would have seen that from the start...it is just the way it is.

 

 

I hope that he has learned a lesson--do not burn bridges

 

As for Jason Cooper and whatever godawful new bar he runs into the ground in our place, well, I'll only ask for one thing from all of you. DO NOT STEP FOOT IN IT. He lied, cheated, and manipulated his way into this position. He betrayed people who tried to help him, and did so without hesitation. I've never seen a more disloyal and dishonest person. Whatever the new bar is, its not alchemize-- please help us spread the word-- this will be a bar built on screwing people over, run by ruthless people who care nothing about you or this neighborhood. On top of that, they're painfully incompetent businesspeople, so I'm pretty sure this place will suck, regardless. Thankfully, the alchemize name is coming with us, so at least that won't be trashed.

 

vs.

 

If you think pissed off, departing business owners who leave after horrific experiences with OTR (and let's not forget I lived there for five years, too) are what's tearing down OTR, you're out of your mind. What destroying OTR is violent crackheads bothering everyone who comes down there constantly, and city leadership that doesn't do anything about it. Until they really get serious about cleaning it up, anybody investing money down there should rethink it, because they're more than likely gonna end up getting burned. That's reality-- no one needs to spin it, or try to put things in a positive light. Until something REAL is done to clean this area up, NO ONE should be pumping money in here unless they've got it to spare.

 

This is typical Nick Spencer.  I believe he is a good operator, but beyond that, Nick does nothing to help himself.  I realize a lot of people here supported Nick's run for Council, but could you imagine what he would say about our own city the first time he did not get his way on a vote. 

 

The enquire says they are working on a story to tell both sides here but I do have a questions just in comparing Nick's first post with his letter of explanation.

 

Did he just change his mind?

 

The previous property owner is moving out of state, and is therefore looking to sell their investments here in town.

 

our property owner, who was also my business partner in alchemize, has decided that another bar can make more money in our location

I have not met Nick and not been to his bar but I have lived about 5 places and been to over 200 bars (yes I actually counted once) all around the country, played in bands at bars, taken the dumb bar photos for ads, and so on.  I believe that his bar was "special" for a group of regulars, but pretty much every bar is a special place for its regulars.  So I don't think Nick's bar was special in this regard. 

 

Also I don't know what high school Nick went to but I think we're about the same age and I and a lot of people don't appreciate him acting like he's the voice of our age group in the city and that his efforts are litmus indications of the city's cultural and economic momentum.  The guy's been a presence on the internet for over five years now and the problem is that he's generated so much hype about himself and his bar that when he makes a mistake it's there for the whole internet world to see.  And naming names on a mass email is always a big mistake!   

 

And naming names on a mass email is always a big mistake!   

 

agreed! VERY unprofessional....almost whiny. plus, that could seriously mess things up if this becomes a legal battle.

Holy Crap!  I love this shit!  It's like or own page 6..., Or whatever the f**k its called.  yeahhhhhhh

 

 

 

 

Lets go to Mcfadden's ;(

Holy Crap!  I love this shit!  It's like or own page 6..., Or whatever the f**k its called.  yeahhhhhhh

 

 

 

 

Lets go to Mcfadden's ;(

 

Should I understand this....because I am completely lost  :wtf:

Bar stays, Nick Spencer does not

April 21, 2007 | JOEWESSELS.NET

 

Just feeding my social networking Web site addiction this morning/afternoon and I see a bulletin just minutes ago on MySpace that Alchemize - the former Over-the-Rhine hip bar owned by Nick Spencer, which moved to Northside in the midst of a giant heap of unneeded controversy last year - is not moving or otherwise closing after all.

 

But it’s getting a new name and it has gotten rid of Spencer, the twice-unsuccessful candidate for Cincinnati City Council and big-thinker on young professionals issues.

 

“All the bartenders, staff, and DJs, with the exception of Nick Spencer, will still be working at this location. That’s really all that needs to be said about that situation,” the poster on the Alchemize MySpace page wrote. “Although we still love the Alchemize name, the press and drama of the last year have tarnished the image to a degree that we feel it’s time for a fresh start with a new name. Other than that, expect the same great atmosphere and events you’re used to, and we’re excited to move forward with bigger and better things!”

 

Postings to MySpace a few months ago first started as pleas to find a buyer for the building in Northside and climaxed into full-out accusations that the owners of the building had deceived the operators of Alchemize. In a call-to-action, Spencer warned that all the bartenders customers had come to love would be leaving with him.

 

In an Enquirer story that was spawned by the MySpace bulletins, the owners fired back saying Spencer was not upholding his end of the bargain, including paying his rent and mismanaging the bar’s finances. Those claims echoed similar issues raised by the owners of the building that housed Alchemize in Over-the-Rhine. Spencer denied all the claims. Cincinnati CityBeat has more from then, including the text of Spencer’s long post explaining his side of things.

 

In a Cincinnati Post story I wrote a few weeks ago, former Hamburger Mary’s co-owner Nigel Cotterill announced he would be using the Over-the-Rhine building for a new martini bar called Below Zero.

 

The MySpace post is signed by two “co-founders of Alchemize,” Kevin Carlisle and Puck Dunaway. Something makes me think we haven’t heard the end of this.

 

I haven’t been to Alchemize since its move to Northside. Frankly, I thought Spencer’s handling of his departure from Over-the-Rhine was deceitful at worst, and at best was a botched attempt to take on Cincinnati City Council after they failed to help him fund his Desdemona music festival. Several Council members attempted to help Spencer fund the festival, but Vice Mayor Jim Tarbell, chairman of the Arts, Culture, Tourism & Marketing Committee, told me at the time he needed more than a few weeks notice for these types of requests. Arts organizations all over the city lobby hard for these funds, he said at the time.

 

Soon after, Alchemize’s departure from Over-the-Rhine turned into a series of unfounded, undeserved and horrific press for the neighborhood. Spencer said crime was rampant and his customers felt unsafe and his employees vehicles were being vandalized. Turns out standing in front of your bar and loudly announcing that you are dialing 9-1-1 on your cell phone makes some unsavory characters hostile, even if they were say, uh, drug dealers, pimps or prostitutes and fully aware they were not following the law. Go figure? I was a little shocked to witness this brazenness on one occasion, and know clearly if there is reason to call the police you don’t tell everyone you’re the one doing it. I think my mama told me that.

 

Way to take a few others down with you on your way out, eh? Business is tough. Losses are sometimes hard to take. I know this firsthand. Spencer, who had some of the best ideas for attracting, retaining and building a creative class in Cincinnati and elsewhere, now seems to be working hard to ailenate the city he once claimed to want to strengthen, and that saddens me greatly.