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Factory, European-style restaurant, on Newport’s Monmouth Row, always aimed at ‘what’s next’


By Andy Foltz
NKyTribune Reporter

“Europe in the heart of Newport,” is the theme for the newly opened Factory, a unique restaurant that opened this week on Monmouth Row.

Marcus Repp and partner Detlef Koppe also own and operate Steinhaus Restaurant in Florence. Their latest venture is based on an idea Repp got from his hometown of Freidberg, which is in Hesse, Germany.

“We have a place there where you can go get coffee and biscotti in the morning, come back for a meal at lunch, and can have a glass of wine or a beer after work,” he said.

Openness (Photos by Andy Foltz)

Openness, industrial look distinguishes Factory (Photo by Andy Foltz)

“We want to be that place where it doesn’t matter what time of day it is, you can come in and get something.”

“Newport is a city that’s really coming alive right now,” Repp added. “It’s urban living without being in the big city.”

The restaurant has an open layout, with several comfy couches in the back as a sort of lounge area, in addition to more traditional tables. They also are a Wi-Fi hotspot, encouraging folks to not just stop in, but to stay a while.

The name Factory stems from both personal and location traditions.

“The idea to Factory is there were steel mills in Newport in the past, and my grandfather worked in a steel mill in Germany,” said Repp. “Detlef worked in one for his first job as well.”

Factory open for business

Factory open for business

A workbench topped with samples of the day’s concoctions greets visitors as soon as they walk in the door. The ovens and drinks are behind the long counter in plain view, something Repp said was intentional.

“We created the restaurant with an industrial look, and we wanted everything out in the open,” he said. “We want people to see how the food is made, and to smell the cookies,” he added with a smile.

For the moment, the menu is not set. The only thing for certain is that the food, including all the baked goods, will be fresh. Currently, some items will be made in house, and others will be prepared at Steinhaus and brought down. Repp is also looking to add paleo-friendly items in the near future, knowing that is a growing option.

“It’s kind of an experimental place. We want to develop our own products, and see what works,” Repp said.

The coffee is ground especially for Factory, and comes in two blends, Stahlwerk and Production. Coming up with the right mix was a fun experience, said Repp.

“We went to the roaster and picked out blends,” he said. “We wanted something not too acidic, with a nice feel on the mouth, and a bit of chocolate on the back end.”

Both of those are available to be purchased by the pound, as well. More items will be available retail in the future, Repp said. “We want to develop our own products,” he said.

The wine menu includes Rieslings and chardonnays, among others. All of the wines are from smaller wineries that produce 5000 cases or less each year, and are available starting at $7 per glass and up. The beer menu includes both German beers and locals, such as Braxton’s Storm, Rivertown’s Divergent, and Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale. Factory has 10 taps which will rotate brews.

“In the evenings, I can see people hanging out after work, especially the residents,” Repp said. “There should be good foot traffic on weekends, too.”

Factory hospitality

Factory hospitality

For now, Factory hours will be 7-7 during the week, and 7-10 or 11 on the weekends. There will be outdoor seating as well as indoor, and the residents of Monmouth Row will have their own patio behind the restaurant.

Even though Tuesday was the first day for Factory, Repp is already looking to the future.

“It’s funny, I feel like this is open, what’s next?” he said with a laugh. “The creative part of putting something like this together is so interesting.”

If Factory does well, it is possible that more locations could be opened up around the area.
“This is a concept that would work in a lot of different markets,” Repp said.


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