Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia Bauer.
Hi Natalia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Both of us have been bartending at Baltimore Soundstage for over 9+ years. Andreas Visilias for 13+. And have been in the service industry since we were legally able to work. Friends and coworkers for 9 years that began dating during Covid and have been searching for the perfect bar to call our own since then.
While on Vacation during Halloween weekend 23’ we for a call from the seller asking if we would be interested in purchasing the Cardinal Tavern Bar.
We jumped at the offer and worked there the next three months during the purchasing process. On February 6th, we officially signed documents and because new owners of the 901 S Clinton spot. We closed down for 4 days and reopened February 10th as Ellie’s Tavern. (The name comes form Andreas’s 5-year-old daughter Eliana nickname)
We really wanted to incorporate our love of sports and games and anything competitive, plus good beers and cocktails. So, we renovated it to a cozy neighborhood sports bar with a gaming room upstairs with gaming systems, board games, and darts.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Opening a business is a rollercoaster of emotions and struggles and highs and lows with bumps coming in at all directions but we love every second of it. There’s nothing like getting to walk into somewhere and call it yours. We will say that the 4 days we were closed down renovating the space before opening was the most stressful days of our lives. There’s SO MUCH to do to get a bar/restaurant opened!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Ellie’s Tavern is a sports bar/restaurant located on the corner of Hudson and Clinton in the Canton neighborhood. We wanted to show our love of our Baltimore teams by adding some of the memorabilia from our home, plus upgrading and big screen TVs inside and on the patio so you don’t miss any part of a game! Chef David Munyon came up with the menu, which is the perfect mix of higher-end bar food with something for everyone, including vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free options. We also have a rotating selection of 12 different drafts and 25 cans/bottles, and a great variety of cocktails… We also really love the upstairs dining area the is equipped when video games, board games, darts, and a kid play set area so the whole family can enjoy their time there. We really are proud of how we were able to pull the place together with our personal touches in such a short amount of time.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
We’re still pinching ourselves that we got this opportunity. We’ve been on the hunt for the perfect bar to purchase for years, and we do give a little credit to good luck for this opportunity. But we also know the many years of hard work, and commitment is the reason we were even in the position to start this journey of stating a business and owning a bar.
Contact Info:
- Website: Elliestavernbmore.com
- Instagram: @elliestaverncanton
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088506110631&mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Sean Dackerman
