BARK TAVERN
Canines meet cocktails at Old Fourth Ward’s Fetch Park and Ice House
Situated just off the Atlanta BeltLine, Old Fourth Ward’s latest tenant, Fetch Park and Ice House, serves as a 3,750-square-foot playground for both humans and their four-legged friends.
The result of a partnership between former college baseball player Stephen Ochs and former Atlanta Falcons player Garrett Reynolds, the concept promises everything from dog-washing stations and onsite “bark rangers” to televisions and complimentary WiFi.
Ochs, who owns a 100-pound dog, first conceived of the idea more than four years ago and brought Reynolds on board last year. “You realize that you get home from work, and there’s not really a middle ground between hanging out with your friends and having a drink or going to the park,” Ochs says. “Bringing your dog onto a patio while you hang out with your friends isn’t always the greatest option, so I researched and came up with the concept of [a place where you can do both].”
His idea evolved into a business plan comprised of two phases, the first of which is an off-leash dog park that opened in October. Boasting a full service Airstream bar, outdoor televisions and WiFi throughout, the park is accessible through $20 monthly memberships or $10 day passes.
The second phase, Fetch Ice House, is slated to open in January 2018. The indoor restaurant, dog friendly patio and rooftop bar will be free and open to the public.
To ensure the safety of all guests, dogs must be spayed or neutered, and owners must provide a current vaccination record and sign a waiver confirming that their dogs are not aggressive, all before entering the park. The area will also be lit throughout, a feature particularly useful during the short daylight hours in winter. “Now you don’t have to worry about rushing home from work to get to the dog park before it gets dark,” says Ochs.
Ochs also took transportation to and from the park into account, partnering with a local ride-share app, Lymousine, that provides dog-friendly rides for Fetch customers. “We want people to hang out for football and basketball games and soccer games, which can last four or five hours with commercials. You can bring your dog and hang out without worrying about how you’re going to get home,” Ochs says. “The big thing is just being able to hang out with all of your friends— including the four-legged.”
Claire Ruhlin
