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The former Wise Guys Comedy and Club and Bistro will become the new home of Clark's Ale House later this year.

(Don Cazentre | dcazentre@syracuse.com)

Remember the downtown Syracuse bar that boasted "22 drafts and 1 sandwich?" The one that consistently made top beer bar rankings in national magazines?

It's coming back.

Clark's Ale House is expected to open later this year -- probably before the new year -- in the building at the corner of East Washington and South Salina streets that was most recently the home of the Wise Guys Comedy Club and Bistro.

Ray Clark is greeted by patrons who drove and hour and half to Syracuse for the last day at the original Clark's Ale House in 2010.

Clark's closed its former location in the Landmark Theatre Building with one week's notice in September 2010. The closing was prompted by the Landmark's need for space for its stage expansion and renovation project.

That last week was marked by long lines snaking around the block with people seeking one last craft beer pint and a signature roast beef sandwich.

Owner Ray Clark has flirted with bringing the ale house to a new downtown location several times since then -- but there is a difference this time: He signed a lease for the space, with JF Realty, on Thursday.

"Ever since I closed I've had people coming up and saying, 'Ray, when are you going to reopen?' They were, are, such loyal customers. Well, now it's here. We're opening."

Clark is excited by the new space. It has lots of dark wood, classic fixtures that include lots of etched glass, and an ornate bar. All are suited for the type of British-style pub he always envisioned Clark's to be.



Like the original, this Clark's will have no TVs and no music -- live or otherwise. There will be be real cork dart boards, the ring the bull game, shuffleboard, and a Wurlitzer upright piano.

Clark is trying find a place for the bright red British-style telephone box that was a centerpiece of the original. And he's bringing back the Wednesday trivia night hosted by Heather Hanlon.

The new Clark's will have 32 draft beer taps instead of 22. The original Clark's, which opened in October 1992, was one of Syracuse's earliest bars dedicated to the then-new craft beer scene, along with plenty of imports.

Craft beer is stil the key, though Clark said he wants the beers to represent all spectrums of flavor, and not lean too heavily toward "overhopped beers and nothing else."

He also plans to install stainless steel beer lines, to keep the draft beers as clean and fresh as possible.

The menu will remain simple: The roast beef sandwich stays, as do the cheese plates -- though he plans to initiate a new all-New York state cheese plate. He is adding soups and salads to the selection.

Clark's willl occupy the ground floor -- which is separated into the room with the bar and the former dining area. Downstairs, in the basement level, Clark's will have its kitchen and cooler. It will not use the space that once housed the comedy club stage.

Overall, the new bar will have almost double the space of the original, and twice as much outdoor seating, which will wrap around the corner. Clark also notes the proximity of the public parking lot directly across Salina Street, which is free after 5 p.m.

From its earliest days, the original Clark's was known as a haven for downtown's characters, from the members of the German singing society, to Ivan, who played the accordion, and Jennifer, the flower lady.

With no TVs and music, it was also notable as a place patrons could come for good conversation -- or even to sit and read a book (or an iPad).

Clark hopes the bar can recreate some of that flavor.

"I hope Clark's Ale House always has that feel," he said. "That's what I'm aiming for."