GREENFIELD — Passersby who have been left wondering what might become of the vacant Seymour space in downtown Greenfield are in luck.
Five years after the Seymour bar closed following the start of the pandemic, the roughly 1,200-square-foot space at 5 Bank Row is expected to reopen as the Bear’s Den Bar.
Residents Adam and Kimberly Gleason, the bar’s new owners, said they plan to remodel and modernize the property and rebrand it as the Bear’s Den — a local bar where patrons can enjoy a varied selection of drinks either from the bar or from a password-driven hidden menu.
“We’re reskinning the whole inside. We’re leaving all of the cherry woodwork alone because it’s beautiful, but all of the color in there needs to be adjusted. We have new lighting going in. It’ll be more modernized than it is currently,” Adam Gleason said. “We have 12 tap lines right now. We’re going to try and keep a pretty varied selection so we can hit the entire market, and anybody that wants to go in can enjoy anything from a local craft brew to a Steel Rail or something of that nature.”
Adam Gleason is currently awaiting a full liquor license from the state’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission as well as the city’s Board of License Commissioners, which will discuss the matter at its September meeting. He said he hopes to open the Bear’s Den in October or November.
An avid woodworker, he and his wife initially decided to buy the bar when they called Jill Fortier, the property manager, to see if she could display and sell his wood crafts there.
Adam Gleason explained that should the room be capable of absorbing sound well enough, he hopes to use it to host community events such as karaoke. He added that he also hopes to partner with local artisans to highlight the city’s local talent.
“I asked if there was an opportunity to maybe go a step beyond just selling woodwork and those conversations led to getting an opportunity to open the bar,” he said. “We intend to really cooperate with the local craftspeople. … I know a dozen people off the top of my head that make really beautiful woodwork or artwork. All of those things are in our local community and pretty accessible, but they aren’t marketed very well. It’d be nice to have a vehicle where, while people are in there getting a drink or something, they could connect with those various parties.”
For the last 15 years, Gleason said he has worked as a business consultant and is very familiar with running a business on a minimalist budget. He added that he and his wife were appreciative of Fortier and landlord Jordi Herold’s help with acquiring the business.
“Our main goal is to establish a welcoming space where anyone can unwind and gather with friends or family. You won’t need to be a beer aficionado or wine expert to feel at home here, but for those seeking them, we will also offer unique, nuanced custom cocktails and drinks,” Gleason wrote in an email. “‘Be Warm, Be Welcoming, Be Proud.’ As someone who grew up in Greenfield, I believe these words truly embody the spirit of our town and what visitors should expect.”