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Beer drinkers, rejoice — chef Chris Shepherd’s beloved Montrose watering hole The Hay Merchant has finally returned.
The bar closed its doors to make much-needed repairs to its beer cooler, and now it’s back with expanded hours, a better beer cooler, and a brand new menu. Co-owner Kevin Floyd’s obsessively-designed cooler, intended to store brews of all kinds under the ideal conditions, took a significant amount of damage over the bar’s past few years, and has now been restored to perfect working condition.
As far as the food is concerned, several beloved dishes from Shepherd’s now-shuttered restaurant Underbelly have made their way to the menu. The famous Korean braised goat and dumplings are back, as is pastry chef Victoria Dearmond’s vinegar pie. The Hay Merchant’s nightly dinners are back, including the popular fried chicken Sunday supper and “TV Dinner Mondays,” where the restaurant’s chefs recreate nostalgic childhood favorites to pair with old-school TV shows.
The Hay Merchant will swing open its doors (again) on Friday, April 27. The spot is now open for lunch, from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
