Piano Bar Seeks Neighborhood Revelers

The four business partners behind a soon-to-open piano bar on the corner of 5th and Juniper streets in Midtown envision the site as a launching pad for their good-times, no-hassle, throwback concept.

The former home of AVRA Greek Tavern, and directly across Juniper from Ludacris’ venture, Murphy’s Den Restaurant and Lounge is slated to be Atlanta’s first piano bar since the demise of Olives Waterside in Vinings a couple years ago.

The concept is being billed as more than rowdy bachelorette parties and tip-jar requests. No concrete opening date has been set, though a build-out is all but complete, stakeholders told Midtown Patch.

The vision, according to Matt Barnett of Gene Kansas Commercial Real Estate, the property owner’s broker, is to create a neighborhood spot with a relaxing but convivial atmosphere, with “great healthy comfort food.”

“Prices will be affordable and the food will be fresh and delicious,” Barnett wrote in an email. “It will be the kind of place that you’ll want to come to often, and can afford to do so.”

Upstairs in the old, two-story home will be a traditional dining area with availability for private parties; downstairs, a relaxed lounge area with a patio and piano performers on weekends.

“I think the idea that this was a former house and had that type of warmth and charm really led them to choose this location,” Barnett said.

By “them” Barnett refers to the four partners behind Murphy’s Den whose industry experience is vast, though the concept will mark their debut venture in Georgia. They hope to expand the concept nationwide, Barnett said.

Namesake partner Cam Murphy, whose family roots in Atlanta predate the Civil War, is a bar and restaurant veteran of 25 years. The other native Atlantan, Aaron Born, has worked in area bars the last nine years, Barnett said.

Ex-pat Floridians Tomas Vallejo Jr. and Myron Manthe, both chefs, ran a restaurant called The Copper Pot before moving to Atlanta.

Murphy’s Den will be open for dinner every day, and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday (no cover charge). Expect a weekend brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The projected economic boost won’t stop with the hiring of servers and kitchen staff.

Murphy’s Den also needs qualified piano performers. Anyone interested should drop a line to Cam Murphy at dualcam63@yahoo.com.