Red Star Bar reopens next week

Laurel Street was buzzing Wednesday night as news of Red Star Bar’s soft opening reached its former patrons.

Red Star will make its grand re-opening next Wednesday, but last night, the bar held a small event for friends and family. The welcoming was warm, focusing on a more laid-back atmosphere. However, if you frequented Red Star before, you’ll be right at home. Patrons might remember the jukebox, which has been updated with some new classics, and an outdoor patio, which got some decorative upgrades. The bar also added a few TVs, a photo booth near the patio entrance and new booths that take up the area where bands used to play.

The downtown bar closed last September, much to the disappointment of its patrons. In early April, Gabe Daigle announced that his wife, Robin, and Jeff Kaufman would be the new owners of the bar and it would re-open in May.

Daigle says with a few minor tweaks, he knew they could meet a quick deadline.

“The bar had been around for a long time,” Daigle says. “The room is great. We just freshened some things up. We just had a lot of friends help us out.”

Daigle, like much of Red Star’s patrons, is excited for the opening.

“I’m already seeing familiar faces,” he says. “We all know the place well. It’s always been a special place to me. We wanted to try and keep it the same.” —Matthew Sigur