The Spacebar

Nice little dive bar in Clintonville. The bartender is great- I let him know the girls room was out of toilet paper and he was on it. The drinks were great- they felt nicer than what a dive bar usually has but prices were good. There's a stage in the back room and the bar recently started supporting a stand up comedy/poetry/story telling night the first Thursday of the month. It was such a great place to feel local and support local!!

This is hands down my favorite venue in the city. There's a Goth night once a month (Church), a really superb 80s New Wave/Post Punk night once a month (Vortex), and Punk Rock Karaoke every Monday with the most impressive catalogue I've ever seen! TJ and Doug are excellent and attentive bartenders who always do their best to make sure everyone is having a great and safe time. Sometimes, I wish they would take out the pool table so we had more room to dance, but the world doesn't revolve around me, unfortunately.

I tried out the space bar on Monday the 27th of February, John Smith day. The atmosphere was very trashy and I ordered a water to sip on to try to stay sober in my years of drinking. I was very parched throughout the night of singing along and playing pool, until I realized that there was urine in my water. I thought I tasted it earlier but thought nothing of it with the fun night. I talked to the waiter and he said I was "crazy" with his hands up. And then I was placed later in the line of singing, with the servers singing twice before me.

I was really impressed with the bands that performed at this bar. I wonder if Spacebar specializes in getting unique acts for their stage because I enjoyed all three of the bands that performed the night I checked it out. Upon entering the Spacebar venue I enjoyed it dark, cool feel. Very chill, and the people there were pretty interesting! I like that this bar has two sets of bathrooms so nobody was standing in a line. And as a woman I appreciate that! Getting to the bar was easy oh, I got to find a really nice hard cider that the bartender suggested. I have lived near this place for 2 years and I have never stepped foot in it knowing that I am a music junkie. After that concert, I will probably become a regular. Please pray for my wallet.

I came here on a Saturday night after having a few drinks across the street at Old North Arcade for my 21st. The bar was practically empty and there wasn't a show going on, so it was a nice place to unwind. The drinks were cheap and tasted amazing! I had three or four drinks during my time here. Will definitely go back.

I have been coming to this street address for the better part of two decades. First as Oldfields on High, than as Kobo, and several times as the Spacebar. With that said the changes that have been made by the newest owners were a long time coming, but I yearn for the atmosphere this place use to leak out into the streets and the service it once had.As stated, the changes to the lay out and bar were a long time coming to run this place as a venue for live music and have been implemented to perfection as far as I am concerned. The accoustics are great as long as the sound tech is on point and they are not just running it as the band requests.I understand that you can't recreate a moment or reproduce the same crowds, but in the four times I have been to the Spacebar the crowds have went from open and inviting to don't get anywhere near my space and don't look at me unless I am talking to you. Perhaps it was the nights I came in or the bands that were playing, but I miss the way it use to be.Unfortunately it seems that the crowd has rubbed off on the service or the service affects the crowd as the employees seem to be arrogant and indifferent one moment and standoffish and hostile the next. While I have mostly observed this aggresion and passive aggressiveness happening to others, I have generally been unimpressed with the service provided. No one should assume they are getting a tip and assign it to themselves by leaving change in two piles and I shouldn't have to watch you clean the bar for five minutes after you served your friends and I have been intermittently waving an empty for fifteen minutes.With all said the place is kept clean, it no longer smells like a urinal some days, their updates are great, they don't kill you at the door, their beer and booze prices are great values, and they still get awesome bands to provide the area with a consistent venue for live music. I want to rate them higher and I will update my review at some point but their service has to improve. I am not sure if the staff is absorbing the energy of the crowds or if they are projecting onto their customers but a little bit here and there can go a long ways.

I just remembered why I haven't been here in a long time. I used to go for Punk Rock Karaoke with Gabe. The bar really gets a incredible crowd of singers that have fun songs. So let me lay out the scene last night. I had previously begged my neices and my sister to come out to karaoke. I promised to buy them drinks. I go to the bar and see the bar tender in active conversation on the opposite end of the bar. I wait. A couple minutes later my sister comes and stands next to me we talk and wait. He is still engaged in a lively discussion. There are about 20 patrons and 6 are at the bar. Only 1 without a beverage that's me. A few mins later a lady in a blue dress walks in she stands to the left of us and begins to wait as well. He's still talking. Then my neice Sarah comes up to us ( she is super pretty) he drops everything and heads her way. She all the sudden turns around and heads off he diverts his direction and turns away from my sister and I to wait on the lady with the blue dress. My sister and I look at each other and walk away. At that moment I knew what it's like to be a fat black girl in America. Sarah claims he will get to us and were tripping so we go back up to the bar. He ignores us again my sister and I wait 5 mins yes we timed it then left again still not served and Sarah was singing. The third time I go up after two minutes of being ignored again I pull out my phone and the flash blinds the bartender he starts screaming "don't take my fucking picture " I said that's the only way I can get your attention he screams I'm really good at my job( nothing he has done supports that statement) and gets right in my face close enough i can see the discoloration of his teeth and screams again don't take my fucking picture. I simply look at him and said have a good night. The last time I was here I bought the entire bar a round. This time I only tipped the Karaoke DJ What's the funny part is I don't even drink anymore my intentions was to buy my family some cocktails. I hope that dude knows how ugly his actions were. I shouldn't have to be part of your click to get served. I wish the worst for him.

Paid a $5 cover only to be refused service at the bar. Apparently for something a guy I came with did one weekend. They claimed he drew inappropriate images on a receipt when they use a square app. Will never come here again and I am glad they profile and stereotype people. Shame on you Spacebar.

Many improvements from the prior venue (Kobo). First of all, the place actually has a theme! Location of the stage has changed, allowing for much more room and open visibility to the stage. The bar area is also nicer, as well as the draft list! TWO sets of bathrooms! This place is HOT AS HELL in the summer; those cutesy ceiling fans weren't doing much. Perhaps a few larger ventilation fans would help. Overall, this is a decently solid venue that most likely holds around 200 people - pretty intimate! Parking is all off street, so get here early and prepared to walk a few blocks.

I didn't expect to be writing a negative review, in fact this is the first review I've ever written. I checked out Space Bar for karaoke night. I expected a fun night and good memories. Unfortunately, I walked away at the end of the night with neither of these things.The customer experience was strange. It seemed as though the karaoke was designed for the staff instead of the customers. Staff members frequently jumped in front of customers to sing songs. Additionally, when I politely requested an ETA on my song so I could see if I could fit in a game of pool, I was told in a condescending tone "there were multiple people in front of me". I felt more like an annoyance rather than a paying patron.Furthermore, the night took an unexpected twist when I received an unfortunate phone call regarding a family emergency. I reluctantly left the Space Bar in a hurry before I could sing the song I requested for karaoke. I was driving hurriedly filled with emotions when I received a text that said the staff member running karaoke publicly shamed me on the mic for "not being patient".Talk about getting kicked while you are already down. All I did was pay money for a beer and what I got was a night of embarrassment. My only hope is that someone else does not experience anything close to my night.