Noble Fox and Liquid Lounge open where Standing Stone and NW Raw used to be
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
Downtown Ashland saw two ribbon cutting ceremonies Friday afternoon with the opening of the Noble Fox where Standing Stone used to be on Oak Street and the Liquid Lounge in the former NW Raw Organic Juice Bar space on Main Street.
Since the announcement last year that a new family-friendly-yet-sophisticated restaurant would occupy the empty Standing Stone space at 101 Oak St., Ashland residents have eagerly and sometimes impatiently waited for doors to open, Noble Fox owner Jeramie Mykisen said Friday afternoon.
Minutes earlier, with a small crowd populated mostly by Ashland Chamber of Commerce members, Mykisen cut a red ribbon in front of the reimagined space at 101 Oak St. Inside, trim was painted black while posh caramel-colored leather covered chairs. In a back room, a small suite of video game consoles awaited families. The restaurant also now boasts French bistro-style tables on its balcony in a nod to both the sister Noble Fox restaurant in Silverton and outdoor tables along Guanajuato Way by Ashland Creek.
The restaurant has been open since Tuesday. Its “soft opening” has been well received, Mykisen said. Locals have expressed gratitude to again have access to a restaurant and brewery in a space large enough for large groups to gather as they have for decades.
“Everyone has memories in this space,” Mykisen said.
Using the inherited but revitalized brewing equipment from Standing Stone, Noble Fox is offering four beers with more to be released soon: Regal Beast IPA, its “big brother” the Burley Beast double IPA, Noble Fox Stout and the Benevolent Red. Eventually, the beers will be canned for sale at other establishments, he said.
Living up to its name, one dollar of every sale of Benevolent Red will go to local school districts, rotating between the districts quarterly to “spread the love around,” Myskisen said.
The establishment also offers vegan and gluten-free menu options, craft cocktails and a scintillating variety of whiskeys with plans to expand into a whiskey bar in the neighboring space, he said.
Liquid Lounge opens
An hour later and only a few blocks away at 370 E. Main St., a pair of giant scissors and a red ribbon was again surrounded by a happy crowd as Liquid Lounge opened its doors.
Owners Cecily and Brandon Froderman are Rogue Valley natives but not Ashland residents. Asked why they wanted to open their maiden voyage into small business in Ashland, Cecily was quick with an answer: “The community. The space,” she said.
The space, formerly home to NW Raw before it moved on to Bend, includes doors that open enough to move patio furniture onto the sidewalk and to allow for live music and games inside. Like the Noble Fox, Liquid Lounge is designed to cater to couples, singles and families. Minors are welcome until 7 p.m., she said.
Before venturing into business, Cecily worked in finance while her husband worked in heavy machinery such as tractors. The pair were beaming as they poured.
Before the ribbon was even cut, tables inside were full and the owners were working elbow-to-elbow with their staff serving drinks. One server used a small device to add smoke to a cocktail while the owners poured wine.
All the wine offered is native to the Rogue Valley too, Froderman said. A small menu of snacks included hummus and charcuterie while cocktails are also available. The restaurant has no televisions or QR codes, she said, because they want “everyone to talk and connect again.”
Both establishments are open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Noble Fox is open seven days a week while the Liquid Lounge is closed on Tuesdays.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at morganr@ashland.news.
Related articles:
Plans call for former Standing Stone to reopen as the Noble Fox (Oct. 15, 2023)
Ashland Past Times: From Whittle Garage to Standing Stone (July 10, 2022)
