Arooga’s owner Gary Huether Jr. had long considered opening one of his sports bar restaurants in the city, but preferred only one location – the corner of 2nd and Locust streets, the heart of popular Restaurant Row.
When that location became vacant last fall, after the former occupant, Spice, closed, Huether and his business partner, Mike Murphy, took it. After a month of renovations, Arooga’s Draft House & Sports Bar opened on March 7.
It’s half the size of Arooga’s six other restaurants. It has a bank of garage doors that can open during the summer, seating for 125 inside and 75 out, horseshoe bar and 60 televisions. Huether looked around opening day and sounded pleased.
“It’s the center of Second Street,” he said. “The garage doors highlight it.”
Since the first Arooga’s started serving in 2008, Huether has been opening new ones around the region including York this year. His eight places include Brew 22 American Tavern on Allentown Boulevard, near Arooga’s Grill House and Sports Bar.
Arooga’s – the name comes from the Ooga horn – also has wing shacks at Metro Bank Park and the Giant Center. The Draft House, like several other Arooga’s, is a certified Green Restaurant, Huether said.
The Draft House is designed to cater to the urban setting, from workers leaving the capitol and state offices for lunch – they currently can show their id and get 10 percent off – to the nightlife crowds.
It also offers a larger draft beer selection, 56 brands, though a smaller bottle selection. It has 10 wines and four liquors, also dispensed draft style. While the Draft House offers the traditional beers, Coors and Miller Lite, it’s focused more on craft beers.
“We’re going to take it to the next notch, from Samuel Adams to Dogfish Head,” Huether said.
The Draft House will follow Arooga’s traditional menu until after summer, when Huether expects to make changes that appeal to city dwellers and goers. “I think we’re going to see different items selling here than at our other restaurants,” he said.
The wine selection includes two sangrias as well as traditional wines produced by such labels as Red Velvet Cupcake and Fat Bastard. The liquor includes Sagoora (Arooga’s spelled backward) vodka, made by a small crafter using Pennsylvania wheat.
With the large selection of beer and wine drafts, a kitchen that is open until midnight five days a week and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, delivery service and a buffet, Huether believes the Draft House will cater to a wide clientele.
“We’re able to be a kind of hybrid,” he said.
Arooga’s Draft House & Sports Bar, 201 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg, www.aroogas.com.
