Butler Street Derby will open its doors Friday at the former location of Hambone’s in Lawrenceville.
The new bar at 4207 Butler St. will be a nightlife experience, with DJ sets, signature cocktails and food. Dishes includes burgers, wings, sandwiches, tater kegs, fresh salads and burrata toast.
The popular bar Hambone’s, which had been around for 35 years, permanently closed following the death of its owner and complications with his estate in 2020.
Then on Halloween in 2022, after two years of sitting empty, a group closed on the space.
Jack Welsh, a co-owner of Butler Street Derby, said the space was a “complete gut renovation.”
“It’s a brand-new building,” he said. “We completely opened the space up.”
The first floor has a sports bar feel, said Welsh, with a 30-person island bar, five booths and 10 total tables, and upstairs will be for dancing, shows and live events. Also on the ground floor is an outdoor space with a full bar and TVs that will remain open for the next couple weeks.
“We’re very excited,” he said, to bring something new and fun to the city. “It was a long, long road.”
Deasy and Welsh own the Playground Dropout in Millvale, and other co-owners of the new bar — Mark Seneca, Dave Trunzo and Marcus Trunzo — own The Flats on Carson on the South Side.
Butler Street Derby is looking to do something to remember Hambone’s in the future. Welsh said he’s open to bringing back game night, as many people have reached out about it. He’s also hoping the bar will be home to live music and comedy shows eventually.
People will be able to book corporate events and parties upstairs as well, he said.
“We’re up to anything and everything in the future,” Welsh said. “Anything you’re looking to celebrate upstairs we can accommodate.”
The grand opening will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday, and the hours will be:
- 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday
- 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday