A wine-centric restaurant called A Bar Called Pup is moving into College Hill's business district, taking over the storefront at 5932 Hamilton Ave. that Japanese restaurant Kiki vacated last year. The new concept comes from founder Katie Reeder and co-owner Justin Koontz, who are stepping into a space with a loyal following and a national reputation to match.
The College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation announced the new tenant, according to WKRC, which reported that Kiki occupied the former National City Bank building until it closed its original location in March 2025. Kiki had operated at the address since 2019 before chefs Hideki and Yuko Harada decided to relocate the restaurant to Ludlow Avenue in Clifton, as Cincinnati CityBeat reported at the time.
Kiki left behind a hard act to follow. The restaurant gained national prominence during its tenure at 5932 Hamilton Ave., earning a spot on Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in 2023, when host Guy Fieri visited to showcase its handmade gyoza, according to WVXU. Co-owners Hideki and Yuko Harada were named James Beard Award semifinalists that same year, as CityBeat reported.
A Founder With Deep Roots in Cincinnati Wine
Reeder brings her own hospitality pedigree to the project. She previously served as wine director at Oakley Wines and co-founded Fairfield Market in Bellevue, Kentucky, in 2019, work that establishes her experience across Greater Cincinnati's wine and retail scene. Taking over a prominent venue previously elevated by Kiki's high-profile run gives Reeder and Koontz an established neighborhood anchor, but it also puts them in a space carrying high local expectations.
Koontz, the co-owner, has described the pair's approach to dining as rooted in gathering people together. In the 2026 Central Ohio River Valley Local Food Guide, he said, “The ceremony of community and dining are essential and dear to us, as is the opportunity to share in each other's lives.” Per WKRC's report, A Bar Called Pup will announce its opening date, hours and menu in the coming weeks.
Permits and Paper Trail
Behind the scenes, the business has already begun working through city and state requirements. Official City of Cincinnati municipal records show that A Bar Called Pup LLC submitted a D-5J liquor permit application to the Ohio Division of Liquor Control for the Hamilton Avenue address in March, a specialized license designated for municipal community entertainment districts. The opening timeline and full menu remain open questions for now.
A Building With a Revitalization History
The building itself has a track record of public investment behind it. The space sits in a former National City Bank branch that received a $14,000 commercial renovation grant in 2016 through CHCURC and Duke Energy to help adapt the property for restaurant or retail use, according to Soapbox Cincinnati.
CHCURC is a neighborhood redevelopment group.
A New Chapter for Kiki's Former Space
Hoodline covered Kiki's original 2019 debut in that same Hamilton Avenue building. A Bar Called Pup is set to take over the space Kiki occupied.
