MANIUM BUILDING COMES ALIVE >>>
In the dark old building on the corner of Fourth and Jefferson in downtown Olympia lives a dampened dream. A small square sign juts into the sky - "MANIUM," it reads. Black tarps cover the windows, as do layers of fliers. A once lively all-ages punk and metal venue, the building has been unused by the public for four years. Run by a collaboration of music lovers and earth shakers, MANIUM was shut down for failing to comply with fire code. A ripple of doubt and sadness swept the town as the city shut down another all-ages venue.
But now, the building stirs.
The MANIUM building (whose owners wish to remain anonymous) is on the cusp of reincarnation. In its new life its name is CRYPTATROPA, and it's a bar. The tarps are scheduled to come down and the doors will be opened Friday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m.
And quite the bar it is. I've seen it, and the careful crew in charge of the resurrection is ready to show Olympia what it has to offer. A place of potions and poisons, perils and passions, the space has incredible atmosphere. A long, softly-curved counter that has held the Manhattans of many is the center of attention. (Built in the ‘30s, the counter is rumored to have hosted the grandfather of American architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright.)
Complementing the counter is a series of booths and custom wood tables carved from 500-year-old fir. Skilled hands created tables in a shape not unlike a shield, the corners curved in layered lines, inviting you to trace their shape in the ambiance of red lighting and candles. The jukebox, a ‘40s-style replica, glows gently against a wall. The music alone will be worth checking out. The eclectic mix will be unlike any in Oly, say owners. Big, round mirrors against dark walls, a huge iron table and a crouching, winged statue add to the aesthetics.
The only setback is the joint has to start small. Due to city codes, only 49 people will be allowed at a time. The booze, beer and prices will be roughly the same as most bars downtown, with a few specialty items, such as absinthe and other hand-crafted liquors. And, for now, there will be no music shows.
The owners say the ultimate goal is to make enough money to install a $150,000 sprinkler system. It needs to be added to make the place a proper venue and bar with a capacity of 420 people. An all-ages section would be included. Donations are being accepted to help bring this vision for the venue into fruition.
In addition to expansion, the dream is to have a drink menu as unique as the atmosphere. As money trickles in, and roots start to grow, more specialty items will be added. Herbal cures and old-school tonics, bubbly brews and beaker shots, to name a few.
Curious? You probably should be.
opens Friday, Oct. 1
421 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia