By Jared Curtis
4th Down Sports Bar
New bar tackles the downtown scene
The downtown bar district has come to life over the past few years with a wide array of establishments and offering patrons a variety of nightlife options. The newest place to open is 4th Down Sports Bar, a neighborhood bar where customers can enjoy the game, grab some grub or tip back an ice-cold tallboy.
“There are so many people living and working downtown, I wanted to create a pub type atmosphere where they could grab some drinks or some food and watch the game,” said Ryan Smithson, owner.
For being a smaller place, there are plenty of tables and chairs spread out. The upper level features two pool tables and game room, which has darts, foosball and video games like “Buck Hunter,” “Silver Strike Bowling” and “Golden Tee Golf.” With seven TVs and a projection screen, 4th Down isn’t a visual overload like some other sports bars, but don’t let the minimal number of TVs keep you away.
“We have every sports channel available and show everything from boxing to soccer,” said Joey DeFazio Jr., bartender. “We show UFC fights and will be opening early for all of the upcoming March Madness games.”
The bar doesn’t have a Happy Hour because, “our prices are always Happy Hour prices,” but they do offer great daily specials. Stop in for “Morgan and Margarita Mondays” and enjoy $2 Captain Morgan drinks and Margaritas all night. “2-dollar Tuesdays” offers $2 tallboys, drinks and shots as well as $3 bombs. Fill your belly on “Whiskey and Wings Wednesday” with $2 wing baskets and $2 Jack Daniels drinks and shots. Stop in Thursday from 8 p.m. to midnight for “3-fer Thursday” and enjoy three Tallboys for $3 and $3 drinks and shots. On Friday and Saturday, patrons can enjoy $2 u-call-it until 11 p.m. End your weekend on “Sizzlin’ 7 Sundays,” with a $7 beer bust, $7 pizzas and a $7 steak dinner. The bar also hosts karaoke on Wednesday and Friday night.
“We have a great mix of customers from sports fans to tallboy drinkers to the Fourth Street crowd bar hoppers,” said DeFazio Jr.
The bar also serves a variety of food including Nathan’s hotdogs, beef burgers and pizza. Pizza by the slice, hot dogs and a few other items are also available after 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night.
“Customers are really enjoying the food,” Smithson said. “People really like our taco pizza and have compared it to Happy Joe’s.”
On Saturday, March 13, the bar will hold a “Lube your Liver” pre-party for Saint Patrick’s Day. The first 300 people who buy a $10 T-shirt will drink free beer from 9 to 11 p.m. If you are wearing the shirt on Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17) and stop in, you’ll also drink for free.
“It’s our first big event, and we are going to flood the streets with 4th Down T-shirts,” Smithson said.
With so many downtown bars to choose from, Smithson hopes his spot will be a place where people can get away from the hustle and bustle.
“We’re a great place to start or end your night,” he said. “We’re a break from the clubs. If you’re tired of the scene and the loud music after a while, stop down, have a few drinks, shoot some pool and reenergize yourself.” CV
Caption: Bartender Joey DeFazio Jr. mixes a Grape Bomb at 4th Down Sports Bar, 207 Fourth St. (lower level). Hours are Monday through Friday, 4:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 2 a.m.
