Q&A: Chasers Bar & Lounge in Ansonia

Photo: Caitlin EmmaYou can watch whatever game you want on the flat screen TVs, play pool or darts, order from the beer menu or play Justin Bieber until your ears bleed at Chasers Bar & Lounge, tucked away on a side street in downtown Ansonia. 

Leonard Lenny” Stauffer, 28, co-owns the bar with his brother Jeff Stauffer, 26. The two grew up in the Valley and couldn’t think of a better place to open a sports bar. 

Chasers opened up at 8 Water St. in November. Lenny said it caters to a younger crowd, although they draw a variety of customers from the Valley. 

They offer bottled and draft beer, liquor and wine. The bar, a small venue, also has a smoker’s patio, pool table, dart board, video game machine and a juke box. 

Daily specials include $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon drafts and $3 Bud Light drafts. On Friday and Saturday night from 8 – 11, ladies drinks” (cocktails) are half-price, too.

The Valley Independent Sentinel sat down with Lenny and cousin/co-worker Adam Jaworski to talk bars, business and, why not … honey badgers. 

Valley Indy: How and why did you start Chasers?

Lenny: My mom owns the building and there used to be another bar here. One woman sold it to another woman and the second lady had a bad run of things, so she had to close. 

My brother and I stepped in and we gutted and remodeled and decided to do something with it rather than just rent it to somebody else. We figured it would be a good business opportunity.

We saved nothing (from the original place), though. 

Valley Indy: What do you tolerate here? What if someone comes in and demands to listen to like, Britney Spears?

Lenny: Well one girl came in and she was playing the hell out of Justin Bieber, but, it’s a touch screen juke box so you can play what you want to play because you’re paying for the songs. I mean, we laughed at her and stuff, but you know, I didn’t shut the machine off. She was just trying to have a good time, you know, it was her weekend out. 

Valley Indy: What’s the best drink to order here? 

Lenny: Hmm. There’s too many to choose from. Aside from the beer menu … people like the Shock Top, I’m not going to lie. And PBR, because it’s modestly priced. They kill those in terms of what’s on draft. Mixed drinks? Nothing too exotic. The bay breeze does pretty well, tequila sunrises…

Adam: Irish car bombs, you know those. 

Lenny: Just the typical stuff. We gotta come up with a Chasers drink, maybe. Put together some concoction and see what works out. 

Valley Indy: What made you want to open a bar in Ansonia?

Lenny: There wasn’t really a good spot in Ansonia for a younger crowd to hit up, you know what I mean? There’s a couple around here, but they have their own niche markets. 

Sometimes I think people wouldn’t mind just going to a spot that’s laid back, comfortable atmosphere, kind of where it’s like, the crossroads of people within the area. 

Photo: Cailtin EmmaBecause it was smaller, I thought that comfortable, laid back atmosphere could be our niche, where everybody kind of knows everybody a little bit and we just had a good time. That’s why we did a lounge thing.

Valley Indy: What’s one thing that people need to know about Chasers? 

Lenny: That we’re here! I mean we’re on a side street so we’re a little tucked away. I’m trying to market and advertise as much as possible. I’ve got a sign on Main Street. 

So, just to get people in here because we’re a little bit hidden. It’s been a little tough so far. We’re here and we’re open for business, so check out what you’re missing. 

Editor’s Note: Lenny called Tuesday afternoon and said that business was hopping when they opened, slowed down at the holidays and has since picked up.

Valley Indy: Well sometimes those little secluded places are the best places, right?

Lenny: True. I thought about that. You know, it’s like one of those trendy places in New York where you just have the address and no sign and you just got a know about it, but I figure I can’t wait around forever. (laughs)

Valley Indy: What do you personally do when you’re not at Chasers or working on the bar?

Lenny: Doing errands for the bar … or the gym … That’s about it. There’s always a million little things to do. Like marketing things, e‑mails, promoting things, trying to think of new ideas. 

Valley Indy: This is a weird question. It relates to a story we just did, so I’m going to ask you about it, so just follow me on this. So, honey badger or fisher cat? Who would win in a bar brawl? 

Lenny: I haven’t seen a picture of a fisher cat, but sight unseen …I’m going to have to go with the honey badger. Honey badger every day of the week. I think that’s a safe bet. I would say Chasers is definitely backing the honey badger. 

Adam: We should have used that as a pool league name. 

Lenny: Oh yeah, we should’ve done that. Cause we’re like, relentless, you know, we just don’t give up. 

Adam: We just don’t care.

Lenny: We’re like tenacious, like the honey badger. 

Valley Indy: Who’s going to win the Superbowl?

Lenny: Oh jeez. Umm … hmm …we’ll say … we’re going with the Giants and the Patriots again just like in 07.

Valley Indy: So who will win? 

Lenny: The team that performs better. I don’t want to affiliate myself, because obviously those two are going to butt heads. 

Click here to go to Chasers Facebook page.

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