Construction of multimillion-dollar Bowman project to be finished in three months

By DAN DEARTH (dan.dearth@herald-mail.com)

HAGERSTOWN — Construction of a restaurant and office space between Duffy's on Potomac and the Schmankerl Stube Bavarian Restaurant in downtown Hagerstown should be finished within the next three months, officials associated with the multimillion-dollar project said earlier this week.


Steve Kemmet, general manager of Bulls and Bears, a restaurant that is being built as part of the project, said workers were on schedule to complete the job last month, but they had to wait on specially ordered building materials.


"Within the next 90 days, we expect to be open," Kemmet said. "Five crews are working five days a week ... We're doing everything we can to get open as fast as we can."



Kemmet said developer Don Bowman of Bowman Development Corp. has spent millions of dollars on the project. When everything is finished, the site will include Bulls and Bears, a downstairs bar, a convenience store, office space and a luxury two-bedroom apartment.


The 125-seat, Wall Street-themed Bulls and Bears restaurant and bar will serve American cuisine, including crab cakes, steaks and sandwiches, for lunch and dinner, Kemmet said. Customers should expect to pay on average $10 for lunch and $14 for dinner.


Kemmet said Bulls and Bears will employ about 35 full-time and part-time employees.


The convenience store, called Trader's on Potomac, will serve, among other things, coffee, doughnuts and sandwiches, Kemmet said. Trader's on Potomac also is licensed to sell beer and wine.


Kemmet said the offices will be leased when the spaces become available.


The construction encompasses three adjacent buildings - the Walker House, the former Tri-State Electric building and the site of the former Double T Lounge. After construction is complete, however, the entire complex will be listed as 38 S. Potomac St., Kemmet said.

opening in 90 days? i'll believe it when i see it. make no mistake, i'm looking forward to this. but i'm doubtful, we've heard this before.

Hang in there... I believe you will love it and hopefully patronize it. Any suggestions for entertainment?

CleverName and I will be there the day it opens. I toured the building with Debbie Everheart and it looked pretty impressive... and that was months ago. Interested to see the Wall Street theme that is planned.

I just had a funny image (well, funny to me) regarding the whole Wall Street-themed restaurant idea. You know how in some places, the wait staff does silly things like get up on the bar and dance. This place has second-story interior windows overlooking the entry courtyard, right? Do they overlook the restaurant itself too? Because I could see where periodically the waiters and waitresses could reenact the big stock market crash and jump out of them. Placement of safety mats would unfortunately take up valuable square footage for tables, but at least I would be amused...

No other serious ideas for live entertainment, Donegan, besides my facetious one. Entertainment for where, exactly? In the downstairs bar, or in the courtyard, or in the main restaurant? I could see where an acoustic guitarist in the courtyard might be nice. Another question, will there be a dress code? If so, Coma's gonna have to buy a fancy new pair of flip flops.

I'm not surprised that you thought of that idea... I'm just surprised you'd actually post it here.

Don't knock the flip flops!

I was actually hoping that bull and bear meat would be on the menu. Oh wait the bear meat might upset the anti-hunting folks in these parts.

Acoustic is in the plans: The building has several spaces where entertainment could be held- in the restaurant, in the basement bar, on the mezzanine, and in the Potomac Walk (this is the largest open area). Hopefully there will not be any crash diving. My hope is that when it opens that the patrons will walk away with the feeling that 1) food and service was excellent and affordable 2) the atmosphere was relaxing and light hearted and 3) Bowman thought of every detail and it was worth the wait.

Just so you know the place will actually be open about 1 month before the "Grand Opening", so please keep reading.

Donegan, thanks for the update. There are quite a lot of us on here who work downtown and I know I'm not just speaking for myself when I say it feels like we've been anxiously awaiting the businesses in the Bowman project for FOREEEEEEEVER. I hope that every business about to open is hugely successful, because it'll have a trickle-down effect for the other downtown shops as well.

What does bear taste like anyway? Don't say CHICKEN.

Having never had it I'm not sure, I was just hoping to try it. I would assume it has more of a "gamey" red meat kind of taste.

Will Bulls and Bears be in the Chili cookoff at the Suns stadium this year?

Knowing Steve- the answer is yes.

I thought you were Steve, thats why I asked the question.

I've never been to the Chili Cook Off, and I love me some good chili. Is this event wortht the cost?

Yeah, we had a team in it twice. It's more fun if you're in the event rather than just going to it.

A group of us thought about entering the first year, but for a bunch of rookies,

1) there was no way we were going to agree on one recipe because we all make "the best chili"

&

2) when we got the entry packet, we were a little overwhelmed about all the rules and such.

Will there be TV's for watching sports and such? I was hoping for a place to watch MMA fights and other PPV type stuff along with some hockey/football or something. Duffy's and Peach Pub are kinda weak on that front and the Hooka Lounge is not really where I'd want to watch some MMA on the weekend (they do always seem to have it on...just not much into the smoking thing).

Too bad the Green Turtle isn't down here....that would have been perfect for Downtown.

Yes there will be TV's throughout the restaurant, wireless internet. We will be carrying sporting events, however I do not know what specific events.... you, the patrons will determine that. Im a big fan of MMA, myself... so you have my vote.

I prefer to see the independents in Downtown Hagerstown... Ive yet to see a chain with real character.

What I would like to see is for us to have a soft opening around the Sept. 15th and then publicize the Grand Opening on October 25th to coincide with Downtown Live... I'm hoping its on SoPo. I think it will be.

The Green Turtle is one of the few chains that I actually like (I think it's because I grew up on the eastern shore where they started) so that wouldn't have bothered me as much as some of the more national chains that would bring in business.

Good to hear about the TV's and such. Good stuff.

$10 for lunch ain't bad. and who knows, maybe one of these days I'll get to meet coma and clever

We were just talking about getting together with you at lunch. Let's do it!

SmokeChaser - don't worry about the rules, they are easy to get around anyway. We just did it for fun, not to win. The first year they had it was shortly after one of my best friends tragically passed away, so we asked his dad to do it with a group of us in memory of him. We want to make it a tradition but haven't been able to the past couple of years because of scheduling conflicts, but we're set for this year! Just do it for fun and you'll enjoy it.

OK!!! I'l have to get the info together, and round up the gang!!

The main rules that I remember them being strict about was the amount of space you used, you're not allowed to bring your own beer (because they have a vendor selling it), and you weren't allowed to serve other food. We wanted to serve this homemade cornbread with our chili but weren't allowed. As far as chili, they were pretty lax and said whatever you call chili, we call chili.

Cool, like I said though our biggest obstacle will be figuring out what we "call chili." All of us take our chili seriously, but we all pretty much have a different way of doing it.

use a hat and pick a chili. or draw cards. easiest way to go IMO

Some teams make multiple kinds of chili. Like one year there was Red, White and Blue chili. The red was hot, white was turkey, and I forget what the blue was.

is the Bulls and Bears restaurant place hiring? Where are the applications. I could use a job.

Yes, we will be hiring in the next month or so. The applications will more than likely be here at the Governor Lane Location. 10228 Governor Lane Boulevard, Suite 3004 Williamsport, MD 21795.

sorry, I'm not going to drive to williamsport. The apppilications should be downtown hagerstown where the place actually is. Do you know what the price of gas is now? sorry, I'm not rich.

I am sure they could be faxed, right?

I hear they have this nifty new creation called email. Works great.

Some companies and businesses even have these things called web pages. But that might be asking a lot of a new business to get all that set up in time, especially since it taken over 3 years to just get the building ready.

With an attitude like that I am not surprised you are not rich.

This is a prime example of the, instant gratification society Americans are living in. Very sad, rather than drive a short 8 miles (City center to City Center), you are willing to stay not rich.

Why not call Mr. Demmings new taxi service they could drive you down there, if you have a fear of driving.

Just a suggestion.


Drive: 8.8 mi – about 12 mins
8.8 mi – about 12 mins
1. Head northwest on National Pike/US-40 W toward Cramer Alley 1.9 mi
2. Merge onto I-81 S via the ramp to I-70/Roanoke 6.0 mi
3. Take exit 1 for MD-68/MD-63 toward Boonsboro/Williamsport 0.2 mi
4. Turn right at MD-63 N/MD-68 W 0.6 mi

To: Williamsport, MD



Cheers

you could take a bus to Gov Lane. One goes there I believe. that way you could save your gas and not drive at all.

Seriously. When I got out of college I spent hours on the road driving around dropping off my resume and getting interviewed. Sure, gas might not have been as expensive, but I was a college grad with NO MONEY. If you need one that bad, you'd do what it takes to get one, including driving a whopping 10 minutes to Williamsport to pick up an application, fill it out, and request an interview.

Been there, done all of that too Coma. I would have loved a 10 minute drive for a job application or an interview.

Seriously. You want a job, you may have to jump through some hoops to get it; that's just how it works. You aren't entitled to a job, and no employer has to make concessions to give you one. Sheesh.

Back in "my day" ::shakes cane:: when you were looking for a job, the interviewer would be asking "what contributions could you make to our company?" Nowadays, the attitude of the majority of people entering the job market (not ALL of them, mind you) is "what you can offer ME that would entice ME to want to give my time to YOUR company?" I have a friend in management at Comcast and he's actually attended seminars on how to deal with the mindset of the generation entering the workplace now, how to integrate them into an organization so that the current staff can work with them in harmony. I found that very interesting.

I am so glad I work solo.

I thought changeisgood already had a job...

You can certainly use email. It is MDonegan@dmbowman.com. As far as the buildings taking 3 years. You are correct. However, I would caution you that until you know the facts behind the delays and the development, design, architectural, permits, and inspections process... you may want to reserve comment. Otherwise you could become someone whose opinion is not valued.

The fact is it took 3+ years...for whatever reason or reasons. I've watched the whole thing happen right in front of my eyes for those 3+ years. I might not know what's exactly is going on behind the scenes...but I sure as hell see what's not going on with the workers there on site. Make excuses....that's fine.

As for my opinion being valued...it's my opinion and if it's not valued; that's for me to deal with, not you.

That happens a lot here. (not talking about you, strungout)

I understand your frustration and I do feel your pain and want your feedback... hopefully not all negative. The collective talent of Bowman Development has been poured into the building from the start to the end result. All of the staff view this project as our finest.

We want to make sure we do it right... no matter how long it took. No excuses. Please do not take offense... just enjoy the finished product.

I do have high hopes for the finished product and hope to enjoy it...just don't ask me to make friends with any of the workers that worked on it. I'll admit...the inside is looking nice so far...quite a way to go but it's looking good especially the bar. Puts Duffy's to shame.

I just want all the businesses and new owners down here to have some respect for the residents that live here. Granted...not all the residents deserve respect....but I think most do. It's a odd relationship that we have (the owners and residents)...we both want the downtown area to be nice and a place to be...but we as residents still want our homes to be our homes...not everyone else's home after 12pm at night and at 6am in the morning with jackhammers.

it's just tough living here right now....yet I don't want to leave...ever. I just want that happy medium that just doesn't seem to exist yet.

I understand and hopefully life will get back to normal for you soon.

That's what I thought, I didn't think he was being serious with his comments.

I think Bill Engvall from the Blue Collar Comedy tour said it best "You can't fix Stupid"

I should clarify... My comment is directed toward the people that are complaining about driving to Williamsport to apply for a job. If you can't get out there then just wait for the restaurant to open, then go in and apply.

Are we to assume there will be a website for Bull and Bears sometime soon?

yes