Mortar entrepreneurial graduates will serve Cambodian tacos and soul food on the patio.
When the bar with the big courtyard at 208 E.12th St. was Neon's, there was a succession of ways to give patrons something to eat. Be it cookouts or tacos or crawfish boils. It was one of the ways of to make the neighborhood bar a good place to hang out for a whole evening.
MaHope will make their Cambodian tacos with green papaya sauce on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. On Wednesday and Thursday, Paityn's Place Soul Food will sell snacks like nachos with pork or chicken or vegetables and macaroni and cheese on Wednesday and Thursday.
There's a public introduction to both food stands on Saturday, March 31 from 4-8 p.m. Thereafter, they'll operate from 4-10 p.m. and when the weather is warmer, start earlier in the day.
MORTAR is a business incubator focused on helping non-traditional entrepreneurs, primarily in Over-the-Rhine and Walnut Hills.
"When I first heard about Mortar, I thought this could be really cool, " said Bob Deck, one of the owners of 3EG. "We're not taking any money from this, there's no lease. It's a way for us to give a hand-up to somebody who needs it."
They have refurbished the outdoor bar and included a permanent grill. They've also fixed up the bocce courts and added some antique cast-iron lights from Music Hall.
It's not easy taking over a bar like Neon's that was such a fixture in the neighborhood and pivotal in the redevelopment of Main Street.
"Some people have told me they appreciate what we've done," Deck said. "Others are happy with what he haven't done."