Bar Envie, a New Orleans-inspired bar in the Zaferia district that opened earlier this year, will close and reopen as Long Beach Beer/Bread Lab’s second taproom in November.
Geoff and Karna Rau—co-owners of Bar Envie, who also own seven bars and restaurants including Selva just down the street—recently purchased a home in NOLA and hope lightening their workload will allow them to spend more time there.
“To be honest, I’m going to miss it. I really am,” Geoff Rau said. “It was fun for us to be able to take New Orleans beverages and New Orleans food and bring those to Long Beach.”
The Raus will remain strategic partners with Long Beach Beer Lab co-owners Levi Fried and Harmony Sage Fried, who will make the space into a second taproom. Their first location operates in the Wrigley neighborhood and offers over 20 craft brews available on tap.
Long Beach Beer Lab declined to comment on the new location.
“We’re super excited about it,” Rau said. “Harmony and Levi are great people and great operators and we’ve gotten to become friends with them since we met. We’re excited to partner up with them.”
The space will likely be closed for a couple of weeks during the transition, as slight tweaks are made, such as changes in decor. The couple aim to reopen the bar around Thanksgiving, Rau said.
Resident Beer Lab artist Alex Diffin will create a mural for the space and a new menu will be introduced, which will include pizzas from the Long Beach Bread Lab, founded by Sage Fried, according to an Instagram post announcing the changes.
Bar Envie is located at 4000 E. Anaheim Street.