'Coolest Thing I Have Ever Done': MA Bar Giveway Plans Come Into Focus

AYER, MA — Reza Rahmani not only wants to give away his bar and restaurant to a person with a cool idea, he wants them to be viable in the Central Massachusetts town of Ayer for a long time to come.

That's why Rahmani has spent the weeks following his announcement that he plans to give away the Bar 25 space, its equipment, inventory and even the employees who wish to return, trying to make sure that whoever is selected as the contest winner has every chance to make it in a challenging business.

"I am trying to bring in partners and vendors to get them all the right equipment they might need," he told Patch on Thursday. "Also making sure they get all the consultation that will set them up for success. We are looking for people to donate money for a new hood system and then they will get some liquor that is left and all of the equipment in there.

"We built it out for $370,000 so that is the portion I am putting into it for them. It is beautifully built out. I say that not just because I own it, but it's a pretty good space."

(Also on Patch: MA Bar Owner Holds Contest To Give Away Spot)

Rahmani said the ideal candidate would be someone with a strong concept who can also be on-site to run the place as an owner-operator — something he determined he could no longer be before he closed the doors on the 1920s Speakeasy-style bar on May 31.

He said there were 50 applicants by the deadline that a small committee has since been narrowed to nine semifinalists. After further interviews, he said the plan now is to invite the final four to a public interview at the Bar 25 location in Newburyport on July 9 when the Ayer location will be awarded to the lucky winner.

"We have an idea of how we are going to structure it," he said of the grand finale presentation, which will be done in collaboration with the Phantom Gourmet. "We are trying to tighten it up. None of us have ever done this before. For all of us, it is a new experience."

He said the applications include "a lot of different ideas" and "some really cool concepts" and that his experience with researching the demographics of the town just north and west of Route 495 on the Route 2 corridor prior to him opening Bar 25 in December 2018 will help in allowing him insight into what is not only a good vision but a good vision for a working-class town about 30 miles outside of Boston.

He told Patch that he's realized in the past month since he announced the unusual giveaway that this is the "coolest thing I have ever done" and that he is very much looking forward to handing over the keys to the new owner on July 9.

"I don't envision (the finale) being very intense," he said of the public interviews. "We just want to hear how they think about the restaurant business. The closest to sounding like they realize what it takes, the attention to detail, how they plan to make it financially, the ones who seem to have the best heads on their shoulders is who I imagine is going to win."