Riverwest's Centro adding a bar next door

The owners of the Italian restaurant Centro in Riverwest are opening a bar in the building next door.

Called Bar Centro, it could open as soon as October at 804 E. Center St., according to documents filed with the city.

Owners Peg Karpfinger and Patrick Moore opened Centro, at 808 E. Center St., in 2009. They own the buildings as well as the businesses.

The bar would be open Thursday through Saturday, at least at first, to serve mainly as a waiting area for Centro diners. The popular little restaurant doesn't take reservations.

"We feel like there's a demand in the neighborhood to accommodate more people on Friday and Saturday nights especially," Karpfinger said.

Karpfinger said customers would be able to put in their names at Bar Centro for tables and wait there until one opens.

On the other days, the bar could be the site of private events. Karpfinger said Centro's wine classes, wine dinners and other events will be held there.

Food for special events would be brought over from Centro. The bar won't have regular dining.

Karpfinger said the bar will be based on one that she and Moore visited five years ago in Spain. Bar Centro's design will be similar to Centro restaurant and to Old World bars, she said, but with a modern flair.

"That's what I love about places in Europe, they're oid and modern at the same time," Karpfinger said.

A bar is being built, the hardwood floors will be refinished and lighting will be changed. "Otherwise, the space is really nice," with stucco walls and a wide-open room, Karpfinger said. 

The drink list at Bar Centro will mirror Centro's, including the Italian-inspired cocktails (except possibly more using amari) and the all-Italian wine list, as well as Italian and local beers.  

The building that will house Bar Centro is the former home of People's Books Co-op, which closed in 2016.