Exit133

August 29, 2013 · Exit133

A Facelift for Hank's Tavern

On the agenda for this week’s Landmarks Preservation Commission was a little item that very nearly escaped our attention: a design review request for 524 North K Street – otherwise know as Hank’s – otherwise known as the Corner Bar.

The request shows a spiffed-up building, with the entrance moved around the corner from K Street to North 6th Street, and a new sign identifying the bar as Hank’s (although the sign is still in design).

The building is apparently actually two buildings, the first originally constructed in 1894, with the two structures joined by 1908. One of the few commercial structures in the North Slope Historic District, the upstairs housed apartments, and the first floor has been a general store and tavern. It has been Hank’s, aka the Corner Bar, since 1969.

The application requests approval to relocate the bar entrance from K street, around the corner to North 6th Street, and create a covered outside seating area with pergola and canvas covered awnings. The application also asks for permission to install a new sign; replace existing vinyl horizontal slider windows with aluminum clad wood double hung sash windows, paired and separated by mullions; and re-side with fiber cement beveled siding to “unify the appearance of the building.”

The proposed changes would remodel the existing non-historic retail level consistent with historic retail configurations, including more. The changes received LPC approval – all except the proposed beer garden (not enough information from the architect) and fake shutters (we couldn’t be happier with this last decision).

It sounds like a good thing, although we’ll miss the anonymity of the unsigned bar, and feeling like insiders for knowing it’s really Hank’s, despite the “Corner Bar” banner.

6 comments

  • Mary August 29, 2013

    Does the application say where the beer garden would go? On the K Street side where the patio already is? It'd be great to have this place spiffed up, but it seems neighbors ought to be included in discussions about beer gardens...

    • Seth August 30, 2013

      Our hope is to keep the beer garden where it is, while moving the entrance to bring people through the bar to access it.

  • talus August 29, 2013

    That's good news. Here's hoping the Corner Store makes some improvements one of these days as well. And a restaurant would be nice in place of what I believe should be called the Broken Dryer Laundromat.

  • Pat August 29, 2013

    I would also know where the beer garden will be. It is my understanding that the beer garden as it exists today on K street was supposed to close at 10PM. There is still a lot of noise after 10pm during the summer months.

  • Alex August 30, 2013

    I look forward to seeing the new look. It's an otherwise cozy place and nice to have a couple neighborhood bar options in the area.

  • fred davie August 30, 2013

    The architect's sketch looks awesome. It will be nice to see a butchered building tastefully restored.