ATHENS-- After holding a soft opening at the end of last year and being on a brief hiatus, Night School, the village’s latest bar and pizza restaurant, is holding a grand opening on April 20 from 3 to 11:30 p.m.

From Dec. 29 through Feb. 3, the bar operated under a temporary state beer, wine and cider permit.

While it was open, the bar offered its patrons draft beer from Deep Fried Beers, a company Night School owner and former Crossroad’s Brewing Company brewer Johnny Osborne created, beers from Return Brewing and other local breweries and cideries, as well as wine and beer that he enjoys.

As the temporary permit ended, the bar closed on a break.

At the end of February, the bar received another temporary permit for beer, wine and cider and received a restaurant permit to serve pizza, with bar operations only on Friday and Saturday nights.

On March 20, the bar began offering beer, wine and cider and began serving cocktails a week later. Now with the kitchen and bar fully operational and licensed, Osborne and his workers are looking forward to the grand opening saying the community has been welcoming so far.

“Everybody has been really good,” he said. “As a first time brick and mortar business owner, I’ve made a few mistakes but people have been really good and super helpful and I really couldn’t have looked for a better environment to start a place.”

The idea to open Night School developed from Osborne’s interests in beer and spirits, he said.

“I thought of Night School back in 2017 and thought that would be a cool name for a bar,” Osborne said in February. “It kind of adds the education aspect of a good beer experience but, you know, mostly the idea that it’s where you go to get your education on nightlife.”

Since obtaining a liquor license, Night School has created a list of specialty cocktails.

“Our bartender has been cooking up some pretty fun stuff for us,” Osborne said. “He has a pretty great vision for drinks and we are excited to be offering people some pretty cool cocktails at a reasonable price.”

Night School offers daily pizza specialties and whole pizza options for dine-in and take out. Whole pizza orders stop 30 minutes before closing time, he added.

The grand opening will include a photo booth, drink and pizza specials, and music starting at 9 p.m, Osborne said.

The bar is open Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 11:30 p.m. and again on Sunday from noon to 11 p.m.

For more information on the bar, visit nightschool4real.com, @nightschool4real on Instagram or Night School on Facebook.