2008 Woodie Awards
MU student entrepreneurs open 2 bars
Meaghan McAvoy
Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: Front Page
Two of Miami University's entrepreneurial students have immersed themselves into the nightlife scene of Cincinnati by opening two bars in Over-the-Rhine.
Miami students Joe Gilster, 22, and junior Mark Fogarty, 21, have established Cue, which opened Nov. 15, and Speakeasy, to open at the end of month.
Described by Gilster as a table service club, Cue is meant to be a place to relax, rent out a pool table or dance. Cue's other half, Speakeasy, is expecting its kick off opening party on New Year's Eve to have appearances by Cincinnati Mayor Mike Mallory, among other city council members.
Cue and Speakeasy are located at the former locations of Rhythm and Blues Cafe and Japp's Bar on Main Street in Over-the-Rhine. Cue and Speakeasy, while branded as separate clubs and each having its own street access, are separated by an exclusive VIP room and the New Stage Collective theater, of which the owners have no affiliation.
The first event that the two partners have promoted for Cue is a model search being done Friday by Brody Jenner from the MTV reality show The Hills.
The search is for people to model for Archangel-his new jewelry and fashion line. The invitation reveals that he is looking for "Cincinnati's Hottest Females" to be the next Archangel models. National press is expected at this event, primarily sponsored by MySpace, according to Fogarty. Ted Skillet, one of the owners of MySpace, is helping host the party with Jenner.
To establish the bars while still enrolled as a student at Miami, Gilster took from his experience of being social chair of the fraternity Sigma Chi, and his bartending at Oxford's Pachinkos Bar-which is where he said he learned to like the business.
"We wanted to start an entrepreneurial venture and raise capital through our connections," Gilster said. "We already own several companies and currently have projects that are going on. This is the leverage we need to get into other industries."
Although they were not at liberty to disclose financing information for the bars, Fogarty said that the funds came primarily from private investors and friends. Both bars' combined investments succeeded $350,000.
Miami students Joe Gilster, 22, and junior Mark Fogarty, 21, have established Cue, which opened Nov. 15, and Speakeasy, to open at the end of month.
Described by Gilster as a table service club, Cue is meant to be a place to relax, rent out a pool table or dance. Cue's other half, Speakeasy, is expecting its kick off opening party on New Year's Eve to have appearances by Cincinnati Mayor Mike Mallory, among other city council members.
Cue and Speakeasy are located at the former locations of Rhythm and Blues Cafe and Japp's Bar on Main Street in Over-the-Rhine. Cue and Speakeasy, while branded as separate clubs and each having its own street access, are separated by an exclusive VIP room and the New Stage Collective theater, of which the owners have no affiliation.
The first event that the two partners have promoted for Cue is a model search being done Friday by Brody Jenner from the MTV reality show The Hills.
The search is for people to model for Archangel-his new jewelry and fashion line. The invitation reveals that he is looking for "Cincinnati's Hottest Females" to be the next Archangel models. National press is expected at this event, primarily sponsored by MySpace, according to Fogarty. Ted Skillet, one of the owners of MySpace, is helping host the party with Jenner.
To establish the bars while still enrolled as a student at Miami, Gilster took from his experience of being social chair of the fraternity Sigma Chi, and his bartending at Oxford's Pachinkos Bar-which is where he said he learned to like the business.
"We wanted to start an entrepreneurial venture and raise capital through our connections," Gilster said. "We already own several companies and currently have projects that are going on. This is the leverage we need to get into other industries."
Although they were not at liberty to disclose financing information for the bars, Fogarty said that the funds came primarily from private investors and friends. Both bars' combined investments succeeded $350,000.
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