What’s going on at the Keystone Restaurant?
February 28, 2007
I’ll admit it. I’m not really a Harrisburg insider. Rather, I troll the internets, monitor to the media, and pay attention to changes around town. On my walk home today, I noticed the ubiquitous orange liquor license application hanging in the window of the Keystone Restaurant. The Keystone has never served alcohol before; its always been a little tucked-away diner serving breakfast and lunch only. Unless the owners are envisioning the resurgence of the martini business lunch, I have to guess that evening hours are on the way. My intrigue grew when I noticed a small sign on the door announcing that the Keystone will be smoke free as of March 1! Could Midtown be getting its first smoke free bar?? I hope a remodel is on the way…
March 1, 2007 at 11:09 am
Hmmm…I live very near the Keystone and am concerned about the license not so much because I fear alcohol but because of the clientele that frequent the place (during the summer it is nothing to see rats jumping around their trash cans, not to mention the other unsavory sorts). I think they are just trying to get beer sales for the morning crowd, because before they couldn’t due to their proximity to Ronald H. Brown. Think Mercados, but with bacon and eggs.
March 1, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Interesting thoughts… However, I don’t see why it would be permissible for Mercado’s to sell beer, but not Keystone, when Ronald H. Brown was open. Plus, their nonsmoking announcement will likely drive away some of the more unsavory element. Maybe I’m being stereotypical, but I would have to imagine that the A.M. beer crowd contains an unusually high number of smokers.
March 1, 2007 at 7:20 pm
The distance…you must be at least 500 feet from a school to have a beer license…since Boas is only one lane they were too close (since Third St. is two lanes the distance to the school from Mercado’s was/is greater).
And trust me, being a non-smoking place will not keep the unsavories out…you can always smoke outside…this just gives people a place to drink until Mercado’s opens…
March 2, 2007 at 7:59 am
They can always head to the tap room. Open at 7!