Beer:30 and the Verona Grill & Pizzeria, both located on the corner of 4th and Merchant Street, will be renovated this fall as part of a “transformation stage” under new management. The new management hopes these changes will bring in more Emporia State students.

“We are remodeling Beer:30 slowly but surely,” said Anthony Trece, head bartender. “The remodel is going to open things up a little more. It will make the bar more accessible from Verona Grill and vice versa.”

Beer:30 plans on having Ladies Night every Friday and extended Sunday hours during football season. Trece said the bar also plans on eventually planning a College Night once every week or every other week with one dollar “you call it” drink specials when students show their student ID.

“Beer:30 is going through a transformation stage at this point,” Trece said. “Right now, we’re trying to see what works and what doesn’t work.”

Trece said Beer:30 also plans on having more theme parties, and the new environment the bar is aiming to achieve will allow for larger events.

But customers won’t be the only ones to benefit from the extra space. The area that connects to Verona Grill & Pizzeria will be more easily accessible.

“I like that the remodeling will open the area up more,” said Caleb Neeley, assistant manager of Verona Grill & Pizzeria. “Now customers at Verona Grill can order a mixed drink and we can make it right at the bar. This makes it easier for staff from both Verona and Beer:30 to work together.”

Trece said even though most of the renovations will not be started or even decided on for at least a week, some of Beer:30’s renovations have already begun, namely the task of reconnecting the main area, garden, The Red Room and Verona Grill.

“I like that there’s more use of the space,” said A.J. VanFossen, Beer:30 security.

The renovations so far have brought more than a feeling of extra space.

“It’s brought in a different crowd without driving the old crowd away,” said VanFossen.

VanFossen and Trece also said Beer:30 is cleaner than it’s been in a long time.

“It’s a lot cleaner in here,” VanFossen said. “The old restrooms are gone and we have completely new restrooms now. The garden area also looks a lot better than it did before.”

Beyond renovations, Beer:30 also plans to have live shows more regularly, specifically 18 and up shows to widen the audience to all ESU students.

“We love having shows here, and we love it when students come out to see bands play here,” Trece said. “We want to make this one of the best places in Emporia.”