Live music and drinks at new Robo Lounge in The Clemow
Co-owners Ali Fuentes (left) and Scott May stand at the bar of Robo Lounge, slated to open in the new year.
Photos: Jessica Jagodics
Live music and drinks at new Robo Lounge in The Clemow
By Jessica Jagodics
A coffee lounge and bar is set to open in early January inside The Clemow building at 275 Carling Ave. Robo Lounge will be a place where the community can gather to enjoy a wide range of drinks, food and live music.
Co-owners Scott May and Ali Fuentes have been working to create a welcoming atmosphere and a charming gathering place for friends and neighbours in the community. Every day at Robo Lounge will begin with fresh coffee and pastries. In the evening begins, the lounge will offer a happy hour, with craft cocktails and wine available alongside light food options, and the music will begin.
“We wanted to have a coffee in the morning and music and an interesting place to hang out at night versus trying to open a coffee shop that tries to morph into a live music space,” May said.
May and Fuentes began their journey in 2016 by opening their first business, Bar Robo, to try to prove to people that Ottawa is not a boring city. Since then, they have put on thousands of shows. While their first location in Chinatown has closed, they have since opened a second Bar Robo at 170 Queen Street.
“The brand of Bar Robo was intended to dispel the idea that Ottawa is a boring predictable robotic city,” May said.
Robo Lounge will be another way to highlight the vibrant culture in Ottawa with local artists preforming at the venue regularly.
“Certainly, a city is much more livable if you have art and culture,” said May. “Think of the great cities of the world – Paris and the art galleries. I mean, Ottawa has a sleeper music culture. It has a really good centre of professional musicians in this city.”
Jazz and folk are among the genres that will be performed at the lounge by local artists. Scott says the lounge will provide musicians with the opportunity to build their experience.
“Musicians have a challenge to find venues that will support them,” he said, “and it’s not uncommon for musicians to flee to larger centres as they get more and more popular, so not only does it support those musicians that want to stay and play but it also supports the artistic growth of artists as well.”
The Bösendorfer grand piano on stage is one of the elements that Scott is most excited about as it will enhance the live music experience. The piano was acquired in collaboration with Carleton University’s music department.
“Their support has been incredible, and we’re happy to reciprocate by having their students come and use it,” Scott said. He noted that there will be dedicated nights for students to perform at the lounge.
May wants the Robo Lounge to become a go-to place for people come together for live music. His goals, he says, are “to support the music ecosystem, become a hub for the community and the neighbourhood, have a comfortable place where people can come and hang out. I’d love to create a melting pot amongst the artists that live and work in this community so that we can spark some collaborative project.”
Fuentes has always wanted to own a coffee shop and hopes Robo Lounge will become a popular hangout.
“People are angry and aggressive lately and it’s nice to sometimes say we hope this is an escape from all that, “she said, adding that music should add to the vibe for customers. “Appreciate live music and the live music experience of some sort and leave a little less heavy. Your shoulders are down, maybe you have a smile on your face.”
May and Fuentes say support in the community has been strong, with many of their neighbours in The Clemow coming down to help prepare the venue for opening day.
“This is our investment in good memories,” Fuentes said.
Jessica Jagodics is a second-year journalism student at Carleton University and a reporter at The Charlatan.