Downtown 'alehouse' eyed at 10th and Central
Jul 01, 2009 | 1603 views | 4 
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A local businessman plans to bring a bar and grill to downtown Tracy as soon as late summer if he can iron out a few details in the lease.
David Helm — a 50-year-old retired cop-turned-private-eye and now entrepreneur — already bought the liquor license and paid a $9,000 security deposit for the place just vacated by Hula Huts, on the corner of Central Avenue and 10th Street.
The working moniker for the establishment: Helm’s Alehouse.
Helm hired a consultant in Kevin Conway — owner and chef of the recently shuttered Lake of Fire Restaurant off of Grant Line Road. They plan to serve microbrews and specialty ales alongside widely known beer labels, both local and international. Conway is helping to put together a menu that will include hearty American fare like Buffalo wings and gourmet hamburgers.
Everything was moving along just fine until Helm discovered that the building’s 30-year-old air conditioner is broken and needs a $15,000 to $20,000 replacement.
“Honestly, this makes me a little unsure about when we’ll open now,” Helm said. “I thought it would open in May. Summer? Maybe.”
Helm partly blames property owner Denise Hembree for the hold-up. He said she wasn’t up-front about the fact that the space has a decades-old, broken-down air conditioner.
“I thought this pub would be good for the community, good for my family,” Helm said. “But unfortunately it’s become a big muddled mess.”
Hembree said it was all just a misunderstanding. The two are trying to re-write the lease to reflect that Hembree may deduct money from Helm’s rent so he can afford a new air conditioner.
“That’s really the only thing standing in the way,” said Hembree, who sued her last tenant for failing to pay the rent on time or in full and evicted her to clear the way for Helm.
Hembree said she’s confident that Helm can open the alehouse by late July if they can figure out how to pay for a replacement air conditioner.
“An alehouse would be a wonderful addition to downtown,” Hembree said. “I really want this to work out.”
Helm, of course, agrees.
The aspiring restaurateur said the alehouse is something he plans to pass on to his children. A Tracy resident for six years, Helm said he also wants to create something that will draw more people to the heart of the city.
“A pub will do that,” he said. “It’s a place where people can grab a couple beers over lunch, wind down after work, or where families can meet for a nice meal.”
•Contact Tracy Press reporter Jennifer Wadsworth at 830-4225 or jwadsworth@tracypress.com.
David Helm — a 50-year-old retired cop-turned-private-eye and now entrepreneur — already bought the liquor license and paid a $9,000 security deposit for the place just vacated by Hula Huts, on the corner of Central Avenue and 10th Street.
The working moniker for the establishment: Helm’s Alehouse.
Helm hired a consultant in Kevin Conway — owner and chef of the recently shuttered Lake of Fire Restaurant off of Grant Line Road. They plan to serve microbrews and specialty ales alongside widely known beer labels, both local and international. Conway is helping to put together a menu that will include hearty American fare like Buffalo wings and gourmet hamburgers.
Everything was moving along just fine until Helm discovered that the building’s 30-year-old air conditioner is broken and needs a $15,000 to $20,000 replacement.
“Honestly, this makes me a little unsure about when we’ll open now,” Helm said. “I thought it would open in May. Summer? Maybe.”
Helm partly blames property owner Denise Hembree for the hold-up. He said she wasn’t up-front about the fact that the space has a decades-old, broken-down air conditioner.
“I thought this pub would be good for the community, good for my family,” Helm said. “But unfortunately it’s become a big muddled mess.”
Hembree said it was all just a misunderstanding. The two are trying to re-write the lease to reflect that Hembree may deduct money from Helm’s rent so he can afford a new air conditioner.
“That’s really the only thing standing in the way,” said Hembree, who sued her last tenant for failing to pay the rent on time or in full and evicted her to clear the way for Helm.
Hembree said she’s confident that Helm can open the alehouse by late July if they can figure out how to pay for a replacement air conditioner.
“An alehouse would be a wonderful addition to downtown,” Hembree said. “I really want this to work out.”
Helm, of course, agrees.
The aspiring restaurateur said the alehouse is something he plans to pass on to his children. A Tracy resident for six years, Helm said he also wants to create something that will draw more people to the heart of the city.
“A pub will do that,” he said. “It’s a place where people can grab a couple beers over lunch, wind down after work, or where families can meet for a nice meal.”
•Contact Tracy Press reporter Jennifer Wadsworth at 830-4225 or jwadsworth@tracypress.com.
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Is this located right there by the farmers market on Central and 10th?
What kind of crowd will it atract? How about an upscale pub-type atmosphere?, Irish Stew or Shepard's Pie?
Hope it works out too.
Thanks!