As a junior at HWS, I’ve heard tales of pre-coronavirus downtown Geneva. The Beef and
Brew dance floor. FLX Live dj nights. Thursdays at Riley’s.
I came to HWS mid-pandemic in the fall of 2020 and Geneva, like most cities, felt quiet
and closed up. “Take-out only” and “Closed for now” signs littered locked storefronts
downtown.
It took two years to recover from the Covid hangover. Now, finally, businesses are
opening instead of closing.

The Hideout, a recently opened bar in Geneva. Credit: Jack Hanson / The Herald


A new bar, The Hideout, has been an HWS student favorite this semester. Dart boards, a
pool table, a jukebox, and a punching machine are just some of the things that keep students
coming back. Just don’t spill your drink on my friend Laura—she’s got a mean punch up in the
800s.
When I talked to Hideout owner Jesus about opening the bar he said, “Opening the
hideout has been very stressful. There’s been a learning curve and it’s definitely out of my
element, being a cardiac nurse and then owning a bar. They’re two entirely different worlds with
a lot of different kinds of responsibilities. But it’s been great meeting new people and I feel like
I’m bringing something great back to the city of Geneva.”

The restaurant anorah. A black painted storefront with glass windows and lamps sticking out from the top.
Anorah, a new restaurant in Geneva Credit: Jack Hanson / The Herald


A new restaurant, Anorah, opened last month on Castle St., serving upscale comfort food.
The chicken paprikash and bao buns are to die for, though I have to admit to the tiniest bit of bias
since I work there. FLX Live also just reopened with live bands, karaoke nights, and drag shows
on the weekends.
Long story short: we’ve got options for what to do downtown now.

  • Zoomed out picture of Twisted Rail, showing a distinctive marquee and yellow and black sign.
  • FLX Live, a glass storefront on the first floor of a beige building.
  • A side view of Lake Drum Brewing in the evening. The building has rusty metal and light blue accents and a canoe motif on the sign.


Catch Moon Flower, an HWS student band, every Thursday 7-9 pm at Lake Drum. Drag
Show and Karaoke Saturdays at FLX Live. Trivia Thursdays 7 pm at Twisted Rail. Open Jam
every Monday night at Hog Wallow. The list goes on. So many new reasons to get downtown. So
many new reasons to be thankful you’re a resident of the Lake Trout Capital of the World.

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