Plans for a gay nightclub in Moncton are getting closer to reality.
Ari Roach has secured a location at 184 Alma Street to be the home of the ARIS Nightclub.
“It’s a perfect downtown location. We got it at the beginning of June, but it was supposed to be at the end of April. I’m relieved we have it now,” Roach says.
She has teamed up with Gary McLaughlin who lives in L’Acadie. He lived in Montreal for 20 years and gained experience from running events in the gay bars there. He came back to Moncton in December and also wanted to open a gay bar.
Roach adds that the location appealed to her because it has a lot of character and the architecture is really beautiful.
RELATED: Young entrepreneur to open 2SLGBTQIA+ bar in Moncton
“We were lucky enough that there weren’t too many renovations to be made. We want to renovate it esthetically, to make it our own and make it our home. We would like to open in July. I don’t have a date set yet, because every time we have a date in mind, it gets pushed. Right now, we’re kind of waiting for everything to be done and then choosing a date,” Roach says.
The bar will include a sunroom patio, local craft beer, and local wine, amongst other things.
“So far, we’ve had a lot of positive comments and messages. Now that we have the space, and we’ve been working in the space, we look out the window and we notice some of our followers drive by, and they see us in the window, and they wave. I think a lot of people are excited. Everyone is just waiting for us to open the doors.,” Roach says.
Hiring is currently underway.
“This has been my vision, my dream, for year and a half now. Finally securing the perfect location, and it’s definitely starting to settle in. I know that I have a lot of work to do before we open, and that’s when it’ll finally feel real. We’re a step closer since we secured the location,” Roach expressed.
