A little more than a year after opening what owner Daniel Keaveney called the realization of a 20-year dream, 1885 Cocktail Bar will close its doors after Sunday brunch on July 19.
The cocktail lounge, located at 2601 W. Parrish Ave., Suite D, announced Tuesday that this week will be its final full week of business, thanking customers for their support and inviting the community to stop in one last time.
“It’s hard to believe we’re writing this,” the business said in a social media post. “To everyone who walked through those doors, shared a drink, celebrated with us, laughed with us, and supported our dream—thank you. You gave this place life, and we’ll always be grateful.”
When 1885 opened last summer, Keaveney said he hoped to bring something different to Owensboro after spending 17 years in Las Vegas developing cocktail programs. The bar’s name honored the year Owensboro began distilling bourbon at what is now Green River Distilling Co., and the concept centered on craft cocktails made with fresh ingredients, elevated food and a welcoming atmosphere inspired by Vegas cocktail lounges.
At the time, Keaveney described opening the business as the fulfillment of a dream more than two decades in the making.
“This has been a 20-plus year dream of mine,” Keaveney told the Owensboro Times before opening. “I’ve always wanted to own my own place.”
That dream came to life last year, but Keaveney said closing the business was never part of the plan.
“Obviously, this isn’t what Maria and I wanted,” he said. “We spent years trying to get 1885 open, and we put pretty much everything we had into making it happen.”
He said he and his wife set out to create a place where guests could enjoy quality cocktails and food while still feeling comfortable.
“We wanted to bring something different to Owensboro,” Keaveney said. “A place where you could get a really good cocktail and some good food, but still feel comfortable coming in and just hanging out. ‘Good Drinks, Good Times’ was always what we wanted 1885 to be.”
Although the business will close sooner than they had hoped, Keaveney said he is proud of what they accomplished.
During its time in Owensboro, 1885 served scratch-made cocktails and upscale comfort food while hosting comedy shows, birthday parties, dominoes nights and other events. Along the way, Keaveney said, many customers became familiar faces.
“We met a lot of great people, and some of our regulars became people we genuinely looked forward to seeing every week,” he said.
Keaveney said one of the most difficult parts of closing is saying goodbye to the staff, many of whom were with the business before it even opened.
“We have a really good team, and they put a lot into this place,” he said. “Some of them have been with us since before we even opened the doors. We’ve watched them learn and grow, and they helped make 1885 what it was. We’re going to miss working with them probably more than anything.”
The owners are encouraging customers to visit during the restaurant’s final days.
“If 1885 has ever meant something to you, we’d love to see you one last time,” the business said. “Come have your favorite cocktail, enjoy one more meal, and most importantly, stop in to see your favorite bartender, server or kitchen team member.”
Keaveney also encouraged guests to show appreciation for the employees who helped build the business.
“This is our last full week, and we’d really like to go out on a good one,” he said. “Come in, have your favorite cocktail one more time, get something to eat, and see your favorite bartender, server or kitchen team member. And if you can, take care of them one last time. They’ve worked hard for us, and they deserve a great final week.”
While acknowledging the disappointment of closing, Keaveney said he is grateful they took the chance to pursue a longtime dream.
“I wish things had worked out differently, but I’m still glad we did it,” he said. “We took an idea we’d been talking about for years and actually made it happen. We built 1885, we got to see people enjoy it, and we made a lot of memories here.”
He ended with a simple message to the community.
“Thank you to everyone who came in and supported us,” Keaveney said. “We really do appreciate it.”
