New Haven restaurant undergoing transformation into club, restaurant Renovated restaurant aims to spark new nightlife experience in city

John “Johnny Mac” Mocadlo, at left, and Gregory Maloney, center, are co-owners of a new bar and nightclub, Vanity Bar, which is scheduled to open in September in the former Russian Lady at 144 Temple St. in New Haven. At right is the property owner, Christopher S. Nicotra of Olympia Properties. less John “Johnny Mac” Mocadlo, at left, and Gregory Maloney, center, are co-owners of a new bar and nightclub, Vanity Bar, which is scheduled to open in September in the former Russian Lady at 144 ... more Photo: Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close New Haven restaurant undergoing transformation into club, restaurant 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN >> The desire for an ice cream cone has led to plans for a big-city nightclub and entertainment space downtown that is expected to open before the end of the summer.

John Mocadlo, known to his friends as Johnny Mac and ever present in those late-night Barberino car dealership ads, has leased the 15,000-square-foot former Playwright restaurant on Temple street with three other investors.

“I haunt you in your dreams,” Mocadlo said of the late owl viewers who wake up in the middle of the night with the television still on.

A partner in four car dealerships, this is Mocadlo’s first restaurant adventure.

He said he spotted the empty space at 144 Temple St. after getting some ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s across the street and he immediately called the landlord, Chris Nicotra.

Within two months he had lined up his partners and the interior renovations have been ongoing since May, he said.

Mocadlo and Greg Maloney, who owns Maloney’s Pub in Meriden and Blackstone Irish Pub in Southington, are planning multiple dining spaces, with a dueling piano bar and restaurant up front, a lounge on the second floor with additional dining space and an intimate 30-seat room downstairs for corporate meetings.

The major attraction, he said, will be the large 100-seat area in the back where Mocadlo plans to locate the nightclub, which will also be open for private banquets and weddings.

The dark wood paneling will be out, replaced with lighter decor, mirrors and lots of light in a space that literally looked like a Gothic church when it opened in 2000. That look was because most of it was literally transported from a church in Ireland.

With the church theme gone, it will christened the Vanity Bar.

Mocadlo estimated the renovation will be close to $1 million and will seat 700 throughout the facility.

“It is going to be very reminiscent of casino and Manhattan nightlife,” Mocadlo said. “We are going to make it a completely different experience.”

A 5-foot by 16-foot television will also be installed in the main room, as will seven chandeliers, dropping 86 inches from the ceiling. Mocadlo said the interior designer is Lisa Davenport.

He said when you enter the restaurant, a mural of the evening sky will be on either side and there will be Prohibition-era artwork.

The new owner said customers can have a low-key cocktail hour before proceeding later to the club atmosphere in the back where there will live entertainment.

“What we are really focusing on is to be the club destination in Connecticut — the highest, most elite nightlife,” Mocadlo said.

There are funky areas throughout the building, which most recently was the Russian Lady restaurant and bar.

But from 1975 until 2000 it was a bank, starting with Hartford National Bank before it was taken over by other financial institutions.

Nicotra said The Playwright owners put $2.5 million into their renovation, adding the second level and opening up the basement, in addition to transporting the church interior and putting in five bar areas and multiple bathrooms.

On the first floor, evidence of the bank is pretty clear in a large locked vault that has been converted to a walk-in refrigerator.

Nicotra said he showed the property to many potential developers over the last 18 months.

“But John is the visionary,” the landlord said.

Editor’s note: this story has been updated since it was first posted to correct the spelling of John Mocadlo’s name.