Empty ‘Tank: Owners move bar

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By Tilly Finley

The former Fishtank, which was supposed to be transformed into the “Cathouse Music Club & Sports Bar,” will stay the Fishtank for now.

The Cathouse was set to open in October, but bar owner Rich DePaso decided against the location and has taken his plans elsewhere.

DePaso decided against purchasing the Euclid Avenue property because “it was just too beat up.”

“The building has had the same owner for the past 10 years who purchased it in an auction, and it has never been renovated,” DePaso said. “He was asking $22 per square feet for the space, when the going rate is closer to $17 per square feet, not to mention the repairs that were needed.”

DePaso has teamed up with Tony Morris of Lexington and Anthony Blakey from Atlanta and the three  are set to open a new bar in the Main Street area.

The three want the location to remain unknown for now, because they have not made their final offer on the property.
Morris and Blakey currently own multiple bars and clubs in Atlanta and decided to bring business plans to Lexington where the club scene “isn’t so oversaturated,” Blakey said.

“I wanted to make this club happen in Lexington because it will offer something new here. Unlike Atlanta where there are clubs everywhere you look, this is going to be a unique location for the people in Lexington,” Blakey said. “It’s going to offer them options under one roof for the first time.”

The new bar will be called “Eighth Eclipse” and is going to be a three-story lounge equipped with an elevator.

“We are going to do a complete overhaul of the building, including putting in elevators and building a top floor event center with DJ’s and a dance floor and all kinds of events every night,” DePaso said. “Another floor will be set up for live music and the bottom floor will be a pub style bar.”

DePaso is the former owner of the Triple Crown Lounge, which closed because of the Main Street demolition last year. DePaso said he is excited to offer his clientele something new.

“It will be like nothing Lexington has ever seen before. Imagine Bakers on steroids. We want to cater to everyone,” DePaso said. “One night we may have country music on the live floor, one night we may have reggae. Every night is going to be different.”

“Eighth Eclipse” is set to open in late March or early April.