This weekend, after a tasty brunch at Cantina Dos Segundos, we were meandering around the neighborhood, enjoying the disturbingly warm weather. We checked out an Open House on New Market St., noticed that work has apparently resumed at Poplar Point, and witnessed serious masonry work going on at the former Jerry’s Bar, at the northwest corner of New Market & Laurel Sts.

A look to the past

Action shot from over the weekend

From the looks of it, the building has been almost completely rebuilt by 129 Laurel LLC, the folks who purchased the property back in May for $450K. According to Foobooz, Bill Proud of Wm. Proud Masonry Restoration is the man behind this project, which will see the former dive bar transformed as completely as the building that contained it. Proud’s daughter, Christy Proud Bernstein, formerly of Silk City, will head up the restaurant concept that will replace Jerry’s, which is expected to be in the gastropub vein.

Sounds fine to us. Though the neighborhood is chock full of businesses of this ilk, and gastropub gold standard, Standard Tap sits a mere two blocks away, we’re not sure there’s such a thing as too many gastropubs. At the same time, it’s a shame to lose the diversity that Jerry’s brought to the neighborhood drinking scene. Dives like Jerry’s are getting fewer and farther between as the forces of gentrification continue to work their magic- pretty soon a two-buck beer will be impossible to find in this town.

Another look at the work taking place