A FRESH LOOK
Nexus Silver Taproom hosts grand opening after redesign
Nexus Silver Taproom may have opened its doors in June, but something about its interior was not quite right for owner Ken Carson.
“We started off with a design that I didn’t feel comfortable (with), so I decided to go back to the drawing board and redo the interior,” Carson said. “So it’s like a lot of light fixtures were changed, colors were changed on the walls, really unique features have been added that make it more than unique than it was.”
Nexus Silver Taproom serves patrons on Albuquerque’s West Side and is a branch of Nexus Brewery, which Carson also owns. Carson turned to Patrician Design for the revamp and is hosting a grand opening celebration today through Sunday, Jan. 15, to commemorate the redesign.
Before the renovation, hard surfaces and harsh colors combined with shocking white walls contributed to a “jarring cold feel of the space,” according to Patti Hoech, licensed interior designer and owner of Patrician Design. The idea was to warm the space up and make it a “feel warmer and more comfortable.”
“We picked a dark, dark taupe color, which goes well with the slate stone and definitely warms up the environment, and rather than breaking up the wall with different colors, we made that the uniform color,” Hoech said. “The silvertones against taupe are a fabulous combination, so we had some custom, fabricated, light drums made, and they’re like huge overscaled lampshades with perforated steel. The perforated steel is translucent, so when we assemble multiple light bulbs in them, they kind of give a twinkly effect.”
Art inspired by Nexus Silver Taproom is part of the new decor.
“The focus is on the beer, and so all of the photographs are shots of beer in different glasses and vessels and growlers, most of which are set against the backdrop of our most spectacular feature, the can wall,” Hoech said. “The can wall is a backdrop to the bar, because we had a very shallow back bar. … The adjacent wall is wrapped entirely with crushed aluminum beer cans, so it’s a spectacular visual effect, but it’s also an effective background because it creates pattern and light and color.”
The grand opening starts today at 4 p.m. with complimentary light appetizers of red beans and rice, collard greens and Cajun wings served at 6 p.m. The party continues Saturday when the taproom opens at noon. There will be door prizes and entertainment by DJ Huggie from 7 to 11 p.m. On Sunday, the taproom opens again at noon, and the Cornbread Blues Band will entertain at 1 p.m.
In addition to the new look, Carson has added some fun new elements to the taproom, including Ladies Night on Tuesdays and a house party feel on Saturday nights. There are also plans to add a Guys Night Out event and more entertainment. The taproom doesn’t serve food, but food can be brought in from surrounding restaurants or delivered by Pizza 9. Nexus’ signature beers and seasonals as well as guest taps featuring beers from Boxing Bear Brewing Co., Marble Brewery, La Cumbre Brewing Co. and Monks’ Ales are available, as well as wines from New Mexico’s Black Mesa Winery.
“We’re happy with the volume, and we’re starting to get known in the community,” Carson said. “… We’re going to bring a lot more entertainment and specials and things to the Silver Taproom starting in January, even more than we have. We plan on having bands on a regular basis, probably on Thursday nights.”