To make way for the recently opened
Amsterdam Bar and Hall in downtown St. Paul, the space underwent $100,000 worth of remodeling.
Within seven weeks, the space, which had sat empty for a year after Pop! restaurant closed, was converted into a bar and entertainment venue.
Jarret Oulman, a co-owner of the place, says, “It involved a lot of dismantling, ripping things apart,” which was challenging because “it was built solidly. It was a lot of work.”
Workers tore down walls, pulled out the carpet, built tabletops, and installed booths and lighting fixtures, he says.
Today, the 8,000-square-foot space has two stages and a private dining room, while a moveable wall helps close off part of the place to create a more intimate bar.
It's helpful for those nights that don’t feature big musical acts, he explains. ”We hung a wall that makes it feel tighter and more comfortable in the bar space.”
Otherwise, the room “feels like a gym by itself,” he says.
As its name suggests, the bar and hall draws inspiration from Amsterdam.
Oulman characterizes the aesthetic as Dutch bohemian, with vintage Dutch graphic art, dark-stained wood, and tapestries. “The look and the culture go hand-in-hand,” he says.
He explains that Amsterdam’s culture was something he and his co-owners wanted to replicate because it’s “interesting, sophisticated, and inclusive.”
So far, the place has been well received, he says, adding that the neighboring record store,
Eclipse Records, and the design and print studio
Big Table Studio, which are also new to the block, are complementary.
“It has a significant effect on the block and downtown St. Paul,” he says, adding, “It makes the creative environment that much stronger."
Source: Jarret Oulman, co-owner, Amsterdam Bar and Hall
Writer: Anna Pratt