If you walk into downtown Huntington’s newest entertainment hot spot on a Friday night, you will likely meet Christy Bare. She is the self-proclaimed "social butterfly" of the operation. 

“I'll make it a point to talk to you,” Christy says with a smile. “Everyone that comes in here will see me at some point. It means something to people when they're here, and they see the owner walking around having a good time, making sure people are having a good time.”

Together with her husband Billy, the Bares are shaking up the local nightlife with Jerk’s - Pullman Square, a sprawling new music venue, bar, and event space located in Pullman Square in downtown Huntington. Masterfully decorated with murals, posters, and incredible vintage sports and rock and roll memorabilia, Jerk’s features a large entertainment stage, multiple bars, balcony seating, numerous pool tables and games, an adjacent sports bar, and even a VIP room. The Bares are seasoned entrepreneurs, and their latest venture is designed to fill a long-standing gap in Huntington’s entertainment ecosystem.

Before taking over the dormant space in Pullman Square, Christy, a former ER nurse of 20 years and Billy, a retired police officer, managed a small empire of regional businesses, including Bare Arms, Sal’s Italian Eatery, Bombshells and Ales, and a wedding-turned-music venue called The Union on Carter, all based across the river in Ashland, Kentucky.

A few years ago, the couple decided it was finally time to slow down.

"It's just the two of us," Christy laughs. "We put things up for sale, thinking, 'Okay, well, it’ll take a few years. Things don’t sell that quick.' And like the next week, one guy bought three of our businesses."

But the slow down didn't stick. Billy had been quietly haunted by a specific, vacant location in Huntington. The space had sat empty for years, and when the opportunity arose to breathe new life into it, the couple couldn't resist. Now occupying the space of the former Funny Bone and the Missio Dei Church in Pullman Square, Jerk’s is poised to be a go-to spot for live entertainment.

The venue proved its concept almost immediately when it booked rock band Saving Abel, selling out 500 tickets in just seven days. 

"The crowd was great. It was an awesome night," Christy recalls. "After that, we were like, 'This is what we want to do. We've been open a few months now, and people are now reaching out to us because they know that we're here.”

The venue's momentum is growing rapidly. They’ve already hosted numerous rising local indie acts like Of The Dell and Rosary Sons. With rock and metal mainstays like Tantric, Fight From Within, and Saliva lined up, and plans to expand into country, EDM, and comedy acts, Jerk’s is well positioned to become a trusted spot in the regional music scene. But concerts aren’t the only thing on the calendar.

While weekends boast a variety of musical acts and DJs, every weeknight has something to offer as well. Monday nights feature a musical bingo game called Singo, Tuesdays are Game Nights and pool tournaments, and Wednesday’s feature an already beloved karaoke night. They’ve even got plans to add line-dancing.

“We want a very diverse crowd of people,” Christy said. “My main concern is being very inclusive to every single person and giving everyone somewhere to go and something to do.”

The unique name of the venue pays homage to Billy’s late grandfather, whose lifelong nickname was "Jerk." While the original Jerk Riley’s in Ashland is a traditional, historic Irish pub, the Huntington location leans into a sports + rock & roll feel, complete with hand-made, pinterest-inspired vinyl record decorations, murals of rock icons like Jimi Hendrix and Kurt Cobain, and a massive collection of sports memorabilia hung around the premises. 

The venue’s main stage is custom-built to look like a rustic front porch, complete with grandfather Jerk’s actual former house number mounted above the door.

"We wanted it to feel like you were sitting on the front porch jamming out to live music," Christy explains. "We’re both huge lovers of live music. Anytime we go out of town, we look for the small places with local bands."

Taking over the space in Pullman Square has come with distinct operational hurdles. A former tenant stripped out the entire kitchen, forcing the Bares to build a brand-new kitchen from scratch. Now, they are navigating the logistics of how to efficiently feed hundreds of concert-goers during a high-energy show.

Location exposure is another puzzle. While Pullman Square is a premier downtown destination, Jerk's is without a street-level entrance, tucked away on the upper tier between the Old North Arcade and the Marquee Cinemas. The easiest access is actually via the adjacent parking garage. To combat the hidden layout, the Bares are actively investing in new signage, utilizing their already large social media following, and taking advantage of organic word-of-mouth marketing.

They have also mastered the art of managing multiple demographics throughout a single day. In the early evening and for concerts, Jerk’s is a family-friendly establishment, with an all-ages policy until 10 P.M., as long as minors are accompanied by an adult. The venue then shifts to ages 18 & Up, and by midnight, the late-night crowd arrives, ready for a high-energy DJ set. With plans on opening the kitchen for lunch in the fall, Jerk’s can potentially cater to every type of crowd in a single day, any day of the week. 

"We thrive on being busy," Christy says. "If there’s a minute where we slow down and spend an evening at home, we’re bored. Stress is just how we operate."

With a packed autumn calendar featuring line-dancing leagues, dart tournaments, and a steady stream of national music bookings, the region is already reaping the rewards of their restless work ethic. Jerk’s is officially on the map, proving that there’s plenty of room for more entertainment in downtown Huntington. 

To book a band or inquire about event spacing, reach out directly via the official Jerk's Facebook page or email christynbare@gmail.com. Check out the full photo gallery from Jerk's here.