Rockville Centre downtown carnival-style bar to open July 9

Rockville Centre patrons will have another bar to choose from starting next week, but this one, owners said, is not like the others. The Bowery Bar & Fare, a carnival-themed pub featuring street fair-inspired food and drinks is set to open its doors on July 9.

“We’re definitely not a college bar,” co-owner Matthew Kouskalis said. Formerly Stinger’s, the Bowery — at 300 Sunrise Highway — is looking to attract “a young professional crowd,” Kouskalis added, noting that it would be “family-oriented” during the day, but a party at night. Only adults that are 23 and older will be allowed in after 11 p.m. on weekends.

From the ceiling hangs a carnival tent, the walls are littered with stuffed animals and the beer taps double as pegs for ring toss. There are other games too, like darts and a roulette wheel that customers can spin for prizes, as well as a giant chessboard and Connect Four on the back patio. There are also funhouse mirrors in the bathrooms.

“[It’s] a New York City type of place in Rockville Centre,” noted Kouskalis.

The menu includes beer-battered pretzels, falafels, corn dogs and sliders. There will also be a variety of sandwiches, skirt streak and fish and chips and classic desserts like funnel cake and zeppoles. The Bowery will also have a brunch menu.

“You could only find [the food] once a year when the fair is in town,” mentioned Kouskalis.

As for drinks, the Bowery boasts an array of craft cocktails and 24 beers on tap. For example, one can sip on a “Shoot The Freak” — aged rum, anchor eyes chili liquor, cinnamon coconut cream, lime, pineapple, hellfire tincture and shaved ice — or enjoy a watermelon blonde ale brewed by Lithology Brewing Company in Farmingdale.

Other co-owners include Nick Marolachakis, and Nick and Manny Galanis, of Astoria, Queens. Galanis owns the nearby Orangetheory Fitness. “[Rockville Centre] is a great town,” Kouskalis said.

Since acquiring the vacant space in August, the bar owners have not met with Rockville Centre police, which is customary with new bars, but Kouskalis said it will have bouncers and identification scanners in place.

The Bowery will be open from 5 p.m. to midnight from Monday to Wednesday; 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursday; 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday. They plan on opening earlier for lunch in the next coming weeks.