The popular bar, THC, is undergoing a huge change – like, a total rehab, dude.
The old building has been scraped off the face of the earth. And in it’s place will be owner Steve Yeng’s dream restaurant bar combo. But looking at what’s left and realizing how narrow the interior of the structure was, it’s amazing to think anything and all those people had fit into that space.
In previous posts, such as this June 2016 report, we stated:
Steve Yeng and his family, the owners of both the OB Noodle House on Cable and Bar 1502 over on Niagara, had moved into the old Gallagher’s on Newport Avenue. They held an opening night under the old name not too long ago – which a bunch of us attended. And now there is a new handle on the place.
The new name: “The Holding Company” or “THC” and “1502” (the positions of the alphabet for “O” and “B”).
Yeng had just completed a round of improvements back then, late June 2016, including the removal of an interior wall, new paint, new walls, new signs.
May 2016 when Steve Yeng first acquired the former Gallagher’s bar. That’s Yeng in white shirt in window. Photo by Frank Gormlie
Back then Steve informed me by phone that he was planning on major changes – and he swore me to secrecy – but he talked then of creating an upstairs restaurant “for the entire family”, doing new things to the bar, improving the music venue, such as sound-proofing the bottom floor, which is horrible, acoustically, he said.
THC 1502 – June 2016
I didn’t realize then he was talking about a complete change. Maybe he didn’t realize it either, back then.
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Nice update. Do you know Steve Yeng’s plans for the properties recently purchased on Voltaire?
Denine – could you send me any info you have at obragblog@gmail.com ?
goodbye, Lucy’s!
The Yeng’s have also purchased Lucy’s??? Is that the property on Newport that they purchased? It would make sense to expand into Lucy’s since OB Noodle House is always packed.
Sorry – not Newport, Voltaire
The Rag takes interest in virtually all construction going on around OB. And for that I am thankful. So this post surprises me.
Steve has been good for OB and no doubt a very successful businessman. But could anyone else get away with tearing-down an entire building on Newport and it be referred to simply as a “rehab”?
As for an upstairs, is he stopping at a 2nd story? Or is he planning on mirroring the 3 of OB Brewery across the street (my bet is on the latter). I’m not necessarily opposed to a slick, new 3-story building going up there, but surely the Rag would agree that doing so would have big implications for Newport.
Presumably this project was reviewed by the OB Planning Board? Does anyone know what exactly is planned for this now-leveled space?
hOBie – We were as surprised as anyone on the extent of the “rehab”; I think it was “like a total rehab, dude” using the vernacular in a mocking way. And I may be wrong, but I don’t think the OB Planning Board reviewed this project.
Obviously, there’s more to the story, and we’re looking for help getting it.
I’m wondering about the parking issues, especially if the square footage is being increased with the so-called remodel. Also, I wish the double-entendre references to “pot” were dropped from the name. I’ve always thought it reinforced negative stereotypes about OB.
THC was removed from the building when the marquee was put up… this guy used an old photo… and how is cannabis a negative stereotype when Prop 64 passed and is now available for Adult Use in the entire state of CA?
A permit wouldn’t have been granted for the remodel had the parking not been addressed.
Technically and if you look closely only the front and back walls we taken down and the left and right side block walls remain there so he did not level the whole building.