Local bar under new management

The Manhattan has been serving drinks to patrons under the ownership of one family for the past 30 years, but that is about to change.

The Manhattan has been purchased by Brad Livingston, of Newton and Charles King, of Nevada, who plan on keeping aspects of the bar intact like the staff and good service, while also making innovations in the services the bar will be able to provide.

“We are going to make space for more group type activity so we are going to be adding trivia nights ... We are going to have new stuff to try out,” King said. “We just want to give an experience that is not offered here right now.”

King said they would begin offering events such as karaoke and trivia nights with prizes for the winners. King said they plan to be open seven nights a week. While there will be changes at the bar, the interior will look much the same.

“Just little changes. We are going to redo the space a little bit but we are not going to do a full on construction change,” King said. “We wanted a bar that we would like to hang out in.”

King said the bar may expand drink menus or availability for patrons who may like different spirits or beers. He said they would be switching up the sizes of the drinks to try and make things easier on bartenders.

“We are also getting some other things in that will help the bartenders out and be a little more efficient for them,” King said.

Lonnie Stogdill, of Newton, is a current bartender at The Manhattan and will continue to work there after it has been renamed to PB — Poor Bastards. Stogdill is interested in seeing the direction the new owners will take the bar.

“I actually worked here in ‘93 also and it hasn’t changed much in all those years, so it is going to be interesting to see what kind of stuff that Charlie and Brad bring to the table,” Stogdill said.

Even though the bar is changing hands and the name will no longer be The Manhattan or affectionately called “The ‘Hat,” local residents will be able to go to the last hoorah send-off party starting at 7 p.m. Saturday at the bar, 113 First Ave. E.

The party will feature DJ Todd Stein of Live Super DJ Service who will be providing music and entertainment until 1 a.m. At the event, Stein will be giving away 200 free glow sticks and will do a free drink drawing every hour.

The festivities will be a way for local residents and bar patrons to say thank you and farewell to current owners Robert and Nancy Andrew.

According to The Manhattan’s website, the bar was originally owned by Robert Andrew’s mother, Sylvia, who purchased the building in 1988. For the past 30 years, the bar remained family-owned and operated after Sylvia retired and the Andrews took the reins in 2008. Sylvia, Bob and Nancy will be at the bar Saturday to say goodbye to their patrons one final time as its owners.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com