The Office bar closes downtown

The Office is closed.

The downtown lounge and restaurant, best known for its dueling piano bar, closed its location at 124 S.W. 8th Ave., across the street from the Capitol, after Sept. 29.

Owner Bryan Lewis said he was looking for an opportunity to start a new business in the space, and the decrease in business during the downtown construction gave him the opportunity. The bar didnt announce a closing, but within a week their phone number was disconnected, the business website was offline and a former Facebook page had been deactivated.

The Office had a massive revamp in 2010 when then-owner Dan Defendorf doubled the facility and added the stage for dueling pianos and other live music. When Dendorf opened The Office Too! in August 2011 at 3251 S.W. Topeka Blvd., he handed the reins of the downtown location to Lewis. The Office Too! closed in March 2012, after which Defendorf said he no longer owned businesses in Topeka, and considered himself a resident of Baltimore.

Lewis tried to cater to a younger crowd with more live music and DJs, according to a February 2013 story in The Topeka Capital-Journal. He primarily works running ESI Live, an entertainment production company that provides equipment and consultation for live events. Recently he has worked to coordinate with Downtown Topeka Inc. and other downtown businesses to bring concert series and live entertainment to the area.

ESI Live is my primary business, Lewis said. Ive been a big supporter for downtown, but The Office went to the wayside a little bit and it was time for a change.

Lewis said he tried to sell The Office in February, and had several businesses interested in the location, but never reached a deal on the sale. Now, in lieu of a solid offer, he is developing a new business venture for the space. His ideas for the business, which he optimistically may reopen at the beginning of 2015, revolve around live entertainment.

Although he attributes much of The Offices slowdown to downtown construction, Lewis said it doesnt dampen his support for the renovation projects.

Part of why I stay in Topeka is I believe that someday we can have a good entertainment district downtown, Lewis said. Im a big supporter of downtown and the construction. Its a big factor in my decision (to close The Office) but after the construction this area of Topeka will have a solid infrastructure.

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The Office bar closes downtown