Butcher & Barrel is preparing to expand its Cincinnati presence with a second location in O’Bryonville, bringing its steakhouse concept to the neighborhood while sharing the same corner with the returning Che restaurant.
WhatNow spoke with Ignite Entertainment owner Juan Imeroni about the upcoming Butcher & Barrel location, the decision to bring the concept to O’Bryonville and what guests can expect from the new neighborhood restaurant.
The new Butcher & Barrel is expected to open around mid-October, following Che’s planned reopening at the beginning of September. The two concepts will operate in connected spaces, allowing Ignite Entertainment to offer two distinct dining experiences in the same location.
Imeroni said the decision to open Butcher & Barrel in O’Bryonville comes from his belief in the neighborhood and the compatibility of the two concepts.
“It gives us an opportunity to have two different experiences on one corner,” Imeroni said. “Che can continue to be that fun, approachable concept that people know and love, while the Butcher and Barrel gives us the opportunity to offer a more elevated dining experience.”
The O’Bryonville location will mark the second Butcher & Barrel for Ignite Entertainment, following the existing downtown Cincinnati restaurant. Imeroni said the new location will bring the same established concept to a neighborhood setting.
“The menu is going to be very similar,” Imeroni said of the O’Bryonville location and the downtown restaurant. “We were successful with the Butcher and Barrel’s menu in downtown, and we want to be able to offer it to the O’Bryonville neighborhood.”
The new restaurant will focus on the steakhouse experience that has defined Butcher & Barrel, while also offering casual options that fit the neighborhood. Imeroni said the style and feel of the building were also a good match for the concept.
“The look and feel of the building will fit the concept of the Butcher and Barrel, what we offer,” he said. “It’s a steakhouse.”
The O’Bryonville restaurant is expected to have an atmosphere similar to the existing downtown location. However, it will accommodate fewer guests because the new location does not have the back room available at the downtown restaurant.
For Imeroni, bringing Butcher & Barrel to O’Bryonville is also an opportunity to share his background and the experiences that influence the restaurant.
“It gives me the opportunity to bring an experience of where I come from, from Argentina,” Imeroni said. “Being able to offer it to a neighborhood setting to the people, especially a second location, is something I’m excited about.”
Butcher & Barrel has evolved considerably since its first location opened in 2017. Imeroni said the restaurant went through multiple menu changes over the years before settling on the menu customers enjoy today.
“We went through many different changes, different menus, until we found the one that our customers enjoy the most,” he said. “It took a lot of work to get to where we are now.”
The O’Bryonville opening also reflects Ignite Entertainment’s confidence in the neighborhood. Imeroni described O’Bryonville as a “hidden gem” surrounded by neighborhoods including Walnut Hills, Hyde Park, Oakley and Norwood.
“It has that small village feeling,” Imeroni said. “It’s quiet, and to be able to put two dining options in this case like this, it’s a great opportunity for us.”
Imeroni said the company is intentionally keeping both concepts in O’Bryonville because it believes in the area’s potential.
“We’re betting on putting two of our best concepts there because we believe in it,” he said. “And we believe in our customers.”
He also hopes the addition of Butcher & Barrel, alongside Che, will encourage other businesses to see the potential in the neighborhood.
“Hopefully, it will attract other restaurant owners or coffee shop owners or retail owners into the location so they can see the potential of O’Bryonville,” Imeroni said.
For now, Ignite Entertainment is focused on bringing the second Butcher & Barrel to life. The restaurant is targeting an opening around mid-October, giving O’Bryonville another option for an elevated dining experience.
