Market Street Pub And Cabaret

I was here about 9 months ago just after they had reopened under new management. My buddy and I walked in not knowing what to expect. It was late afternoon, the bar was open and we were treated like old friends. They showed us around, explained the venue and encouraged us to return and check out the show. Well, we did and had a wonderful time! I’ve included some pics.

I came here for a «Little Jake and the Soul Searchers» show. I really love the space– it’s got the old timey feel with the upstairs balcony in the front area and the tiered seating around the stage with a small dance floor right in the front of the stage. They have a pretty good selection of beers on tap from what I could tell (although I’m not much of a connoisseur). They have this one beer that comes in a can which I had never tried before– grapefruit flavor! It was delicious!!!
The crowd at this particular show was a bit older than I’m normally used to hangin’ with late at night… but it was a fun experience and the band playing was very entertaining.

Gainesville is a small, but eclectic town when it comes to people and bizes. I’d be hard-​pressed to say there’s any venue quite like Market Street right now, though, and I must say I’m intrigued to see where they go. Burlesque shows, stand-​up specials, open mics, and other cool events hold promise for a large chunk of the local crowd. Some polish here and there and this could be exactly what has been missing from downtown.
The Venue
Nestled downtown about 1 ½ blocks SE of Main St. and University Ave., Market Street has a modest exterior with a long, fading green banner and a few black tables that will keep smokers content more than anything else. Think grungy in a trendy way, where the style is foreshadowing for the evening you’ll have on the inside.
Walk in and the dim, dark embrace of a speakeasy pulls you into the room. To your left is a nice stretch of bar and to the right is a large dining room that I don’t believe is factoring into their evenings for now. Everything feels a touch grimy, mostly from the age of the place. It’s endearing to me, but maybe not for some.
Slink further back and you’ll find the stage room with regular center-​of-​room seats/​tables and spots on the edges a couple of steps higher up. Having the elevated tables on the edges makes any seat a solid view of the show, which is very appealing.
The Vibe
I was drawn to the place as a fan of a burlesque troupe that has become a regular part of Market Street’s line-​up, and that should set the tone for whether this is the energy you’re into. Carded at the door like a responsible biz, we shuffled into the back area which was largely concealed by a curtain that would later be used to seal in the show-​goers. I loved this aspect of the atmosphere, and it’s the only scene in town where you can sit around an onstage show, have drinks, and unwind with some entertainment. Bigger cities probably have the science behind this concept on-​lock, but I can easily tell the backers of this joint are motivated to bring the best experience possible to their patrons.
The Bar
Drinks are served up in the first portion of this place, so if a show is going on you will have to exit the fun for a bit to open a tab. They have, as of June 26^th, 2015, gotten their liquor license which means two things 1) They’re prepared to ramp up to the right strategy for their venue and 2) They’re not yet masters of the cocktail craft. One of the people in my group ordered a drink and could definitely tell it was made in a hurry or, perhaps, by someone not yet polished on mixology. When this adjusts it’ll definitely help add another star to the experience.
For me personally, it was a nice surprise to find they did host a strong supply of local craft beers rather than a suite of macro mess. It did take a bit for the line to diminish at the bar when re-​uping but, again, practice makes perfect if the servers aren’t straight out of the NY nightlife.
Final Thoughts
I’m a fan of the dim, relaxed table seating and definitely accepting of a more «adult» (it’s professional, classy, and chill) option when planning my outings. What I would like to see happen is that the service improves and they pick a stance on their food offerings, which seemed unmotivated. What I would LOVE to see happen is actual table service for drinks so that the show is never interrupted due to an empty glass. I’ll be back to see whether these items are addressed… or maybe just because I want to…

As a Gainesville native, I’ve heard plenty of stories about the old Market Street. I’m happy to say they are back up and running under new management and I can finally say I’ve been! Awesome staff, accommodating with great customer service – a nice change of pace from some of the too-​good-​to-​serve-​you attitudes you can find elsewhere downtown. I’m excited to see what they are going to do once they get their liquor license, right now I believe it’s wine and craft beers. +1 for anyone pouring local. Overall, Market Street keeps that old historic Gainesville feel and always makes you feel welcome.

I hadn’t been there yet, kinda new in town (well two years). I couldn’t find anyplace I really liked downtown. I am spoiled from living in San Francisco for 7 years prior to coming to Gainesville for my work (don’t ask, TOP SECRET). So, I was kinda wandering around, until I stumbled into «Market Street Pub and Cabaret,» as it is called. The first thing I noticed was the publicity shot of a burlesque dancer inside the entrance, and I suddenly felt at home. See, burlesque is like this rare art form in San Francisco and so I was glad to see one in Gainesville. Such an anachronism here, you know. The next thing I noticed was the great selection of pints they have. I am partial to cider, and they have several. So I settled down and began to drink (I ride the bus on nights like this, LOL). Later on, I realized where the special vibes were REALLY coming from when I met one of the owners, Jill (at least I THINK she is an owner?). She is obviously one of the original thinkers who makes that place special, regardless. When I saw her perform I realized she had a sort of comedic genius in fact, and it takes a deeply sensitive person to be like that. I think she is magic or something because she captivated the entire audience. OK, enough about HER. So they have this really awesome vaudevillian-​style stuff going on often, along with some other really talented local acts, so it’s just totally unique there. Anyway I was really glad to find Market Street Pub and Cabaret that night, and future nights to come.

This place is a hidden gem in downtown. A very old bar that is under new management. It’s huge inside and is a wonderful venue for a variety of local shows including burlesque, belly dance, and musicians. They also host artists during Gainesville Artwalk every month.
Since the new ownership the selection of drinks had improved greatly. Currently just beer, cider, wine, and wine-​based liquor. The cider selection is pretty good compared to most places too.
The free wifi is also a huge plus!

I love this spacious, comfortable bar! They have cold local brews at reasonable prices, lots of cozy chairs and big tables, strong wifi, and fun shows. There are some really unique and cutting-​edge acts that frequent the place.
This is the perfect spot to bring a group of friends for a board game, to do some computer stuff after work, or to check out performance art. They are pretty cool about bringing food in too!
I often find myself weary of being packed shoulder-​to-​shoulder with college kids in a stuffy, overpromoted venue, and Market Street is a real breath of fresh air.

Awesome burlesque and variety shows! The new owners have turned this place around entirely. They feature many local brews and while they don’t have a liquor license yet, it’s in the works. I always see great entertainment by talented ladies and gentlemen who absolutely love performing. They also have free wifi, and offer food from local establishments, cooked on site for larger shows. Great place to see something new or just hang out.

Took a chance — and came up short. Made it out there Saturday night for my first (and last) visit. It was a night on which they were featuring quasi-​burlesque entertainment in the back followed by some music later on. Me and my friends (who are now seriously holding a grudge against me for having suggested the place) ditched prior to the blues music that was not going to be live (i.e. not performed by a band) but DJ’ed (?!?)
The bar is just a beer and wine affair. That’s right, it bills itself as a «pub & cabaret» and has no liquor. That was the first warning. The cabaret talent is largely composed of (outwardly) grown-​up versions of those girls in your high school’s drama club that never got much stage time. The Medieval Faire crowd to be sure. So much of any live theater experience rides on the attitudes of the staff/​entertainers, and that is part of the reason that last night’s presentation fell flat. Particularly for something that it supposed to be provocatively entertaining you need to be outgoing and gregarious. This bunch as a whole — not so much. You get the feeling they are there for each other (and family members in the audience) and not really to entertain anyone new. You could tell they were trying to achieve a style, but it seemed they were missing something for which mere practice and a hairstyle could not substitute.
What we got were a mix-​matched troupe of people in poorly fitting costumes (note: it was not the costumes’ fault) who were largely performing for their associates in the audience. My buddy sprang for the show for us and our dates so I am not sure how much the damage was, but I think it was greater than ten bucks each to get us past the curtain. A lotta dough for little show. If you’ve ever seen burlesque in places like New Orleans or Chicago, you’ll be particularly disappointed.
Men’s restroom dark, but pretty clean. While we did not partake in food, apparently they had a hard time with their cook/​caterer who was coming from another gig. I guess, be careful if you are expecting dinner and a show. Parking okay if you get lucky or take your chances in the nearby parking garage. Seats, floor reasonably clean. Bar looked clean. Lots of local craft beers ($ 5) you see everywhere. Merchandize and «art» was being sold up front that cheapened the experience a bit.
There is nothing wrong with being amateur, but uninspired performances coupled with cold, wet attitudes and warm beer gets this poorly executed, albeit creative idea of a «pub and cabaret» a poor score.

Market street pub has really come around with the new management. Plenty of variety shows and entertainment with a great lineup of local beers on tap.

Great musicians and awesome burlesque, variety shows! Has been really improving thanks to new manager! Parking is great it is next to parking garage so it is never difficult to find space. The atmosphere is great and the people are really nice. Bathrooms are nice and service is good!