A legendary music club’s stage is about to play host to a different kind of performance—a symphony of scents, as an Upstate New York candle bar experience sets its sights on a second location.
Poured Candle Bar of Hudson will be bringing its bespoke fragrance experience and upscale wine bar to a second location at Press Bay Court in Ithaca this summer. Its hallowed walls once housed the live music events of The Haunt which lived there from 1969 to the 1990s.
“You can still see where the stage was, where the bar was,” said Dennis Green, a co-owner of Poured.
Green and his partner Ricky Tiscareno opened Poured in the Hudson Valley during the throes of the pandemic in September 2020. The couple had dreamed of someday opening a second location, but were waiting for just the right time and opportunity.
Dennis Green (top left), Ricky Tiscareno (bottom right), owners of Poured Candle Bar of Hudson, NY will be opening a second location in downtown Ithaca. Seen here with their rescue pup, Nashville. Ryan Tiscareno | Provided photoRyan Tiscareno | Provided photo
The couple vacationed together to Ithaca and the Finger Lakes several times and always felt a draw to the culture and beauty of the area. It also served as a meeting point for Green, a Canadian native and his family.
Other spaces had tried to woo them into shopping malls or newly developed storefronts, but it didn’t feel quite right.
Then the historic walls of the space on Green Street opened up, most recently being used as a hair salon. It wasn’t even on the market when a tour guide mentioned to the couple it was just about to be vacant.
“It was a moment of fate,” Tiscareno said.
As soon as they saw the space, they knew it was meant to be. Much like the storied Hudson salon, which used to be a brothel in the city’s heyday, the Ithaca location had all the character they were looking for.
The plan is to open Poured Candle Bar Ithaca in mid-July and reservations are already open. Head to Poured’s Fragrance Experience page and select Ithaca to book your spot.
Other businesses in the Press Bay Alley and Court include an espresso bar, a circus school, indie clothing retail, hand pies, donuts and more. Surrounding them on Green Street is indie movie theater Cinemapolis, Odyssey Bookstore, and Urban Outfitters.
While candle bars have been popping up around Upstate New York, what makes Poured stand out is their personalized candle making experience which pairs with their curated wine bar, a mix of local and international spirits and snacks.
They also work with glass makers, ceramicists, iron workers and more to find vessels for your candles that are exclusive to their shop.
The downtown Hudson location has become a destination experience, drawing in customers from around the state, according to the pair.
“We have done a lot of research to make sure that what we’re doing is unique to us,” Green said.
Final plans are still in the making, but there may also be Finger Lakes and Ithaca inspired scents available, similar to their existing Hudson Collection which honors the local area.
Poured also offers luxury home items, perfumes, colognes, gifts and other retail to complement the fragrance collections they sell across the country.
More information can be found at pouredcandlebar.com.