Downtown bar owner purchases adjacent space, expects to finish expansion by May

Glory Days Water Street Tavern (right) just purchased 2,000 square feet of neighboring office space to use for more bar and kitchen space.

Abby Fisher | Daily Kent Stater

Credit: Ron Soltys

Glory Days Water Street Tavern is ready to double in size.

After purchasing 2,000 square feet of neighboring office space, Glory Days owner Mike Beder said he will expand his business to include a second bar, patio area, stage and small kitchen. Beder also plans to hire another full-time manager and 10 servers to help staff the additions, which should be open by the end of May.

Beder purchased the extra space from Ed Bargerstock, owner of the Bargerstock Agency and Kent City Council member, for $200,000 last November.

While Beder has only removed old countertops from Bargerstock’s former office, City Manager Dave Ruller is already excited about his work.

“People investing money in properties downtown is always a good thing,” he said. “Hopefully neighboring businesses see that (addition) and reinvest some money in their buildings, too.”

Glory Days expansion will also benefit Kent by creating a slight increase in property and income taxes.

The property taxes will mostly go to the city school systems, and the income tax will directly benefit the city, Ruller said.

“From our perspective, every job counts,” he added.

Bargerstock, who said he and Beder discussed Glory Days’ expansion for years, was happy to let go of his former building.

“(The property) became more economically viable to a new bar owner, so it made sense for me to sell it,” Bargerstock said. “Mike was the best neighbor I had. If downtown Kent had 10 more people like him, we’d have a lot more revitalization.”

As for other changes to Glory Days, Beder said he wants to build a new walk-up window for late night food.

But he won’t be changing everything.

“We are still opening at 4 o’clock for happy hour,” Beder said.

Contact public affairs reporters Brianne Carlon at [email protected] and David Yochum at [email protected].