Catalyst Records owner Gary Guarinello has stepped into the former Top Hops Beer Shop inside Essex Market with a new bar offering wine and beer. Top Hop closed shop in October after over a decade on the Lower East Side. Located right next to the Catalyst Records vinyl shop in the market, it was a popular spot to grab a beer and listen to live weekly music hosted by the record store, so it’s a good fit for Guarinello and makes sense to continue the model.
The Catalyst Market Bar is still in “soft opening phase,” which entails just beverage (beer, wine, spritz, soda) but Guarinello plans to roll out an official opening next week, along with a food menu. He told us yesterday that the full menu will include hot dogs, cheese boards and sipping broths as well as gluhwein (mulled wine) for the remainder of the winter.
Current hours are as follows:
Mon: Noon-8pm
Tue: Noon-8pm
Wed: Noon-8pm
Thur: Noon-9pm
Fri: Noon-9pm
Sat: Noon-9pm
Sun: Noon-7pm
