Maude’s Classic Cafe is now serving more than espresso.
The downtown cafe opened its next-door beer and wine bar, Sidecar, in July. Owner and manager Matthew Wrighton said Sidecar offers live music, a monthly comedy night and a poetry slam.
The cozy bar has a groovy atmosphere inspired by a trip to San Francisco, Wrighton said.
Its couch doubles as a stage, and lava lamps glow next to a gray furry wall.
“It’s visually entertaining,” he said.
Juliane Miklos, a 21-year-old UF alumna, went to Maude’s every other week while at UF.
“I’d love to go to Sidecar based on my experience at Maude’s,” Miklos said, “I love the atmosphere there.”
Wrighton said he hosted a 20-person taste test to choose the bar’s selection of beers and wine.
“There’s a lot of detail going into what you’re going to drink,” he said.
Andy Fass, the owner and chef at Amelia’s, an Italian restaurant across the street, said he is excited about the opening of Sidecar.
The two businesses have different hours and crowds, so Fass is not worried about competition.
“The more businesses downtown the better,” he said.
[A version of this story ran on page 8 on 9/5/2014 under the headline "Maude’s opens beer, wine bar next door"]
