Intermissions Bar and Grill (pictured above) is located at 8.5 Center Street, next to the Alley Cat Boutique and across from The Idle Hour bar (Emma Boskovski/News Editor).
Intermissions Bar and Grill, found at 8 Center Street, reopened on March 5 and is now open five days a week following a seven-month closure prompted by an electrical kitchen fire in August 2020.
Bar manager Margaret King said that navigating insurance claims and building renovations caused by the fire was a lengthy, difficult process.
“It brought me back to writing my senior thesis in college … it was a lot of work,” King said. “It was very difficult because [the insurance company] asked for every little thing you could think of … what liquor bottles were in the bar, how many napkins were in the bar, how many straws … that kind of thing.”
According to King, once the insurance process was finished and repairs to the building began, much of the bar had to be replaced or refurbished due to smoke and water damage. He said that furniture was reupholstered, walls were repainted, and the bar top was replaced.
“We’ve had a steady stream of customers here and we’re really thankful that when we finally reopened, the Geneseo community kind of rallied,” King said.
Geneseo students make up a significant portion of Intermissions’ patronage, King said, and the bar plans on hosting weekly events like Greek nights and other special offers on food and drink to attract Geneseo students.
“I’m so glad to hear that Intermissions reopened. I was nervous that they would close down for good after the fire since it happened during the pandemic … a lot of other local businesses have not been receiving enough support to sustain operations, like [the Geneseo Family Restaurant],” political science major senior Ariana Barone said, referencing the recent closure of GFR.
The grand reopening on March 5 was “packed full” and “looked even better than before,” according to sociomedical sciences major senior Angel Alejandro.
“I was so excited when I heard Intermissions was opening back up,” Alejandro said. “I saw their Facebook announcement that they were reopening, and a bunch of my friends and I went right at 5:00 p.m. It was great to see people there again … I always enjoyed going there.”
King said that she is optimistic about future business as the bar reestablishes itself in the Geneseo community, and as more New York residents receive COVID-19 vaccinations, he believes social bar life will return to normal soon.
According to a press release made by Gov. Cuomo, vaccine eligibility has been extended to all New York residents who are 16 years and older, and “universal eligibility for the vaccine is set to go into effect [the week of April 4].” Cuomo said that one in five New Yorkers are now fully vaccinated.
“Since the pandemic, Geneseo social life has been so different … The bars here are always a great going-out option because they’re safe and reliable. Even though social life here is more expensive, I’m happy to spend the money on a local business like Intermissions,” Alejandro said.