New sports bar Streetcar Bar + Bites to open soon on Thrift Road

Why it matters: Streetcar is the newest addition to the Thrift Road boom, which includes six new businesses that will open by the end of 2023.

• Some recent openings include restaurants Azul Tacos and Beer and Pizza Baby and event venue The Ruth.

What to expect: Street Car aims to be your standard, lively, sports bar, but decked out in pop art decor and graffiti you’d likely find on train cars — both a nod to the name and the freight district in which it’s located, says owner Steve Martin.

• The interior is designed around a central bar, with additional booth and table seating. There’s also patio seating (and you can’t miss the bunny rabbit chairs on the front lawn).

The menu: Expect classic bar foods with a twist, says Martin. I asked Martin and his culinary team their menu favorites. A smash burger with pork belly ($17), tater tot poutine ($10) and chicken wings with sweet and spicy sauce ($16) were a few of the standouts.

The drinks: The drink menu will have 12 specialty cocktails. Martin says they’ll be creative and interactive, like the “Single Ladies,” for example, a rum cocktail served with a ring pop ($15), and the use of bubble guns, a popular bartending device that tops cocktails with a smoke-filled bubble.

• Don’t worry beer lovers, there’s a rotating list of brews, too.

What’s next: Streetcar will remain in its soft opening phase through the rest of 2023 with a grand opening in early 2024. For now, it’s open for dinner only, with eventual plans to serve brunch and lunch.

• Martin is also opening Runaway, a prohibition-era cocktail bar, next door. Though they’re physically connected, Martin plans to operate the two businesses separately. He’s aiming for a Dec. 12 soft opening.

Details: Streetcar is located at 2315 Thrift Road, beside Pizza Baby. It’ll be open 5-11pm for the Wednesday, Dec. 6 soft opening.

• General hours will be 5pm-midnight Monday-Friday and 11am-midnight Saturday-Sunday, but may vary during the soft opening phase.