On Friday, Jan. 23, New Paltz’s beloved cocktail bar announced they will be entering a new phase. The Lemon Squeeze announced on their Facebook page that they will officially become a full-on music venue.
Though they already reopened on Jan. 30 after shifting gears, the announcement piqued the interest of the music community within New Paltz. Manager and operating partner Kevin Kopacko shared that “it was better for us to make the full leap and reintroduce ourselves as a straight ahead music venue rather than trying to be too many things at once.”
Initially, The Lemon Squeeze opened as a piano bar in 2019, and was founded by Gina O’Brien and Ed Carroll. Kopacko has been there to oversee every transitional phase of the dine-in-piano-cocktail-music venue bar. “It’s just been a slow evolution towards finding what works best for us in this town,” Kopacko said.
Originally from Asbury Park, NJ with a background working in live music venues and the restaurant industry, Kopacko found his niche within the wooded walls of The Lemon Squeeze.
Kopacko explained that, “There was always part of me in the restaurant business, the other half of me was working at the Stone Pony or convention halls, and I got a lot of experience hand-in-hand as I was both growing up in the restaurant [industry] and on the music side of things.”
Its modern yet rustic appeal displays the sheer affection for music featuring vinyl-lined wall casings and canvas portraits of remarkable and legendary artists ranging from Billy Joel to Stevie Wonder to Amy Winehouse.
While reflecting on The Lemon Squeeze becoming a dedicated music venue, Kopacko said, “It was an easy transition for me. I knew how to reach out to nationally touring acts and things like that, and I’ve had some success now making contact and booking these bigger shows.”
Kopacko expressed the importance of prioritizing sustainability, consistency, a comfy and classy yet laid-back vibe and above all — music and live performance. “We didn’t get the retention or see the consistency in the dinner crowd, but there’s always consistent people attending the music events,” Kopacko said.
The managerial decision to rebrand The Lemon Squeeze as a proper music venue was entirely grounded in community. Customers, musicians, nearby businesses and the greater New Paltz, Ulster County and Hudson Valley communities were all considered in this decision.
Kopacko went on to emphasize The Lemon Squeeze’s focus on variety. Involving different genres of music, forms of entertainment, considering financial needs and accommodating the interests of an array of age groups while providing flexibility as a rentable venue.
In addition to hosting local and Hudson Valley-based bands, the venue has begun booking larger scale touring bands, considering New Paltz is nestled in the middle of routing for touring artists.
“We’re a unique space where a band that’s not big enough or doesn’t have a big enough following to fill The Falcon in Marlboro, or The Colony in Woodstock,” said Kopacko.
With the functionality and capacity of the venue in consideration, its cozy atmosphere serves as a perfect in-between space for up and coming bands, touring groups or for artists who desire a more intimate performance setting. “We form this little middle niche category,” Kopacko said.
In addition to a concentration on community input and impact, The Lemon Squeeze intends to be a space that is not only intended for locals and upscale events, but also, being “marketed to college students.” Kopacko said that he has engaged with several booking agencies who were interested in performing in a college town during the school year “because they know the students are there and they can reach them by playing live here.”
The Lemon Squeeze’s decision to convert to a full-blown music venue comes with some downsides, such as a limited menu, now referred to as “Light Bites.”
Now that they are no longer offering dinner services, their menu will be missing staple entrees such as The Squeeze Burger, Miso Honey Cauliflower and Blue Point Oysters. These adjustments free up space for new hor d’oeuvres like their new assortment of sliders, including Hot Honey Chicken Sliders, Veggie Sliders, Beef Sliders, Lobster Sliders and Pulled Pork Sliders.
Despite undergoing these changes, the venue will still offer a menu consisting of traditional pub and finger food with some vegetarian-friendly and gluten free options.
As intended, these adjustments will allow Lemon Squeeze staff the time, space and energy to reflect the abundance of talent that resides within the Hudson Valley region. From “established [artists that] live up here,” to Hudson Valley natives, “there’s so much talent in the area that we want to help showcase,” said Kopacko.
Once winter reaches its bitter end and spring flowers begin to bloom, the beloved patio will reopen, allowing guests to enjoy live entertainment in the beautiful outdoors. Kopacko emphasized that guests “don’t necessarily have to have a ticket to the show. You can come and eat and have some drinks, but if you’re a ticket holder, you can come have some food ahead of time and then go in when the show opens.”
As for their new and improved availability and hours, The Lemon Squeeze is set to open at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, Kopacko said, but “Fridays and Saturdays are show exclusives where we don’t open until everything’s ready to go.”
The Lemon Squeeze maintains its reputation as a good hangout place for good music and good company. “We’ve got a great vibe to the place, the staff is great, always welcoming … it’s a place for everybody,” Kopacko said. “Come in, just relax, hang out. We have TVs on with the sports games on and things like that. So it’s just a regular place for everybody too.”
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