ASHLAND — When the owner of Riley’s nightclub took it over about a decade ago, Aaron Stitzel told her that if she ever wanted to sell it, he’d buy it.
He worked at Riley’s in its early days and had always wanted to own a bar.
Stitzel already runs Ashland Ohio Pools and Spas, another business in town.
But when he received a text asking if he wanted to buy the bar, Stitzel and his friends couldn’t pass it by.
Stitzel, along with Kim and Scott Buzzard and Hollie Chance, bought Riley’s, picking up keys in late October. The Buzzards own L&L Buzzard Drain Cleaning. Chance also has business chops, having worked as a bartender in Ashland for 13 years.
The foursome rebranded and reopened the bar on Nov. 16 for a soft launch. Kash Co. Pourhouse opened for all of Ashland on Nov. 17.
Chance and Kim Buzzard handle the bartending, while Scott Buzzard and Stitzel help with maintenance, cleaning, bouncing and other duties at the bar.
“It was just kind of fun to do something different,” Stitzel said.
What’s different about it?
The bar closed for two and a half weeks as the foursome put in work to clean up and redecorate it. Kim Buzzard said they put in new lighting, decorations, tables, chairs and countertops.
The bar still has the dance floor in the back — something the owners felt was important to keep — but they aimed to make the Pourhouse feel more “upscale,” giving it a “swanky” feel.
“We watch real well who’s in here and what kind of music they vibe to, and that’s what we kind of go by,” Stitzel said. “As soon as the older class leaves, we change up the music just to appeal to the younger crowd that’s in here.”
The menu features fancy cocktails, like espresso martinis and tequila sunrises. They don’t sell food other than snacks, but said their hope is people who eat out at other restaurants downtown and aren’t ready for their nights to end will make a stop in at the Pourhouse.
Chance also said the bar is strictly 21+, a change from a “college bar” reputation she said Riley’s had in the past. Most of the clientele so far has been people aged 30-50, Stitzel said.
Chance said Ashland University students over 21 are welcome. So far, the new owners said the 21+ rule has been well-received. Students who have come in have been respectful.
“I’ve had many young guys and girls say, ‘Thank you, thank you for cleaning this up because we think it’s cool,’” Chance said. “We want to be here… This is our new hangout.”
What does the future hold?
The new owners also said they hope to bring events to Ashland. They aim to host live shows, comedy nights and jazz nights, among other ideas. Kim Buzzard added they’d like to partner with food trucks, too.
Those events and collaborations might take a while to get off the ground as ownership gets their feet under them, but they said they’re excited for what’s to come.
“We take real pride in it,” Stitzel said.
Kash Co. Pourhouse, located at 155 W. Main St., is open seven days a week, from 6 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.