New Tavern Approved for Former Foxy's Location

The former Foxy’s location that has sat empty since the bar owner left for Las Vegas in September will see a new tavern open its doors there this summer.

Port Washington resident Richard Merritt plans to open his tavern, AlleyKatz, on July 10 — at the 219 N. Franklin St. location.

The Port Washington Common Council on Tuesday night approved his liquor and cabaret license applications, but Merritt will need some time to finalize menu details and renovations to the building to hit that date.

“It’s going to be a place with good music, good food, good atmosphere, that’s pretty much it in a nutshell,” Merritt said.

The new business could be classified as a bar/restaurant, he said, and music will most often be jazz, blues and classic rock. Though the menu isn’t yet fully established, he hopes to make AlleyKatz’ food standout.

“Good pub food with a twist, you could call it – something else that nobody else does, it's unique,” he said.

The Common Council in December had denied a liquor license application to business owner hopeful Troy Koput, who proposed launching Deville’s Lounge. The council had security and other concerns with the plans, and revamped the city ordinance surrounding the liquor license application process following the denial of Koput’s application.

Ald. Mike Ehrlich said AlleyKatz’ plan does a great job at addressing concerns the council had regarding another bar in the location.

“A lot of the concerns that the city has when it comes to (smoking and security issues at the location) — the application was very thorough and very specifically … addressed all of the city’s concerns,” he said.

Koput had begun some renovations to the bar, but stopped after the denial of a liquor license. Merritt said AlleyKatz plays off some of those renovations, but also works to lighten up the bar.

“We’re just brightening things up,” he said. “It’s a big bar, and previously it was a little bit on the darker side, I would say — that’s what previous owners liked for their color scheme, We’re brightening it up so it’s a lot lighter in here.”