From the fierce orange on red paint-splattered walls, to the massive two-room bar, and the endless rotation of local art displayed all over the walls, Hardware Caf?(c) has an extraordinary d?(c)cor. Throw in some great drink specials, beer brands from all over the world, and an array of bands every week, and Hardware Caf?(c) creates the perfect setting for a first date, catching up with friends, or a fun night of boozing.
Huddled inside the bend at 245 Allen St. in Allentown, Hardware Caf?(c) makes for a more upscale night of drinking than bar hopping down Main Street, without the necessity of dressing to the nines.
Hardware offers an extensive wine and beer list at reasonable prices and a small menu of vegetarian-friendly appetizers and finger foods. In addition to the fabulous d?(c)cor, there is also the option of eating outside in the outdoor dining area.
Three nights every week, Hardware Caf?(c) features jazz and blues bands in their newly expanded band room. Every Wednesday night offers a performance from an up-and-coming gypsy-jazz quartet, named Babik.
Thursday nights bring music listeners back to their American roots with classic bluegrass. Jazzing up the funky, artsy, bohemian neighborhood of Allentown is a mixture of jazz artists every Friday night. Every other weekend features the minstrel workings of a trumpet artist.
The owner of the Allen Street Hardware Caf?(c), Mark Goldman, presented music to the already culturally sound repertoire of the bar/art gallery/small-order restaurant in March 2004 in hopes of boosting business. With a better-than-expected result, the addition of the band room and second bar was needed to accommodate the crowds.
"Feed the people and the people will feed the neighborhood," Goldman said. "Do things really small and people will flock. Compare this theory to baseball. You can't go up to bat aiming for a homerun. You have to aim for a single to get on base."
On a side note, Conner's Spaghetti House is expected to open on Tuesday. The restaurant is located directly across from Hardware Caf?(c) on the outside of the bend at the end of Allen Street. The owner, Conner Loehr, has been working hard painting the walls to match the extreme effect on Hardware's walls and put his nose to the grindstone to install exquisite hand-carved woodwork on the walls and has benches for seating.
