By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–One of Old Town Helena’s popular new night life spots, Coal Yard Bar and Grill, will now be open for lunch beginning Friday, June 26.

The announcement of the bar and grill now opening its doors for lunch should make those near Helena excited, as many people have come by trying to get into the restaurant for lunch according to Coal Yard Co-owner Tim Robinson.

“We’ve had numerous requests for lunch and we’ve had several people show up around 11:30 or noon wanting to know if we’re open,” said Robinson. “We’ve had to turn them away and say come back at four.”

For the first few months after opening, the Coal Yard’s hours were 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

The restaurant will now be open for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday as well as for dinner.

The Coal Yard offers a full menu and beverage service as well as offering live music on most nights.

Items on the dinner menu range from shrimp and grits, seafood tacos, IPA braised short ribs, baked oysters, burgers and more and Robinson says most of the sandwiches and a daily special will now be offered for lunch.

“We’re going to have most of our sandwiches carry over to our lunch menu and we’ll have a daily special,” said Robinson. “This Friday will be a fried chicken breast special and this Saturday we’ll be having a shrimp and grits special.”

Every second Thursday of each month the Coal Yard hosts a wine pairing event that costs $20 per person and includes a buffet where those in attendance can try and pair different wines and foods of their choosing.

The next wine pairing event will be Thursday, July 9, beginning at 6 p.m.

Also, on Saturday, June 27, beginning at 4 p.m. the Coal Yard will host the Back Forty Beer Co. for a “tap takeover” where all the beer on tap will be the premier brews offered by Back Forty and those who attend may try the different selections.

To keep up with the latest Coal Yard happenings visit Facebook.com/coalyardinhelena?fref=ts.