HISTORIC DEUTSCHTOWN — Northsiders looking to enjoy classic cocktails, New Mexican food or even some bar favorites might just find what they’re looking for at The Eastman, a new bar which has opened up at the former location of Fat Cat.
Co-owned by husband and wife Michael Schmidt and Jess Frandsen, The Eastman held its soft opening on April 16, preparing for a sort of trial by fire just ahead of the NFL Draft coming to the Northside.
Schmidt, who is a resident of the Northside, said the idea to open The Eastman came about from discussions between himself and Frandsen on how to invest in their community.
“Really, we wanted to see this location open,” he said. “We loved it back when it was Fat Cat.”
Located at 520 E. Ohio St., the building housed the short-lived but much-loved Fat Cat, the combination bar and music venue from July 2023 until its closure on March 20, 2024. Following that, the location hosted tacOcat, a pop-up by the New Mexican restaurant Taqueria Acosta.
Check out the May 2026 issue for the complete story.
