Jack-of-all-trades Dave Hartmann has recently put the finishing touches on the South Wedge-adjacent new bar, Firehouse Saloon. Doors opened in mid-May, marking the beginning of Hartmann's third business and his second watering hole.

For 12 years Hartmann has been behind the laidback vibes, cheap booze, and general hospitality of The Dr.'s Inn on East Avenue, near Brighton. Now, those of us closer to downtown have a friendly neighborhood bar to quench our thirst without wringing our wallets dry.

"I'm going back to the basics - no pomp and circumstance," Hartmann says of his new bar. "You want to go someplace you're comfortable." And the Firehouse Saloon is nothing if not comfortable.

Upon entering the wood-and-brick facade you'll immediately notice the large, semicircular bar in the main room. Its size seems necessary to accommodate the 48 taps, featuring everything from the ubiquitous Labatt Blue to harder-to-find Great Lakes beers. There is a side room occupied with tables and chairs, as well as the beginnings of what will soon be a working fireplace for the winter months.

On a recent Monday evening my friend and I felt right at home amongst the cross-section of local characters hanging out. After surveying the taps and the chalkboard listing the beer menu, I decided on a Brooklyn Chocolate Stout, while my friend enjoyed an Anchor Steam Porter ($4 each). The bartender was both pleasant and attentive. She seemed to have a sixth sense for when our glasses were nearly empty. We enjoyed the complimentary bucket of peanuts, along with the simple pleasure of throwing the shells on the floor without having to clean them up. If only I could be so comfortable at my apartment.

In addition to the vast beer selection, the bar also offers a variety of liquor and wine. There is a different special every night of the week, some being geared toward the unsung heroes in the medical and rescue communities (Hartmann himself used to be a volunteer firefighter). Monday is Nurse Night, and Thursday is Public Service and Armed Forces Night, with assorted food and drink specials for each.

The bar has dart boards, pool tables, Mega Touch games, and the piece de resistance: the Brave Firefighters arcade game, where players get to work their way through a burning building, saving people as they go. I must say we did pretty well - at least our pixelated pals seemed happy enough.

Firehouse Saloon has much more to keep you busy. Eighteen high definition televisions are ready and waiting for football season to start. Live entertainment is on the bill on certain Saturday nights, and Hartmann says it will become more frequent in the coming months. The bar will have outdoor seating, and a patio is being installed in the back.

The kitchen is open all night and currently serves chicken wings and such. Hartmann plans to expand the menu to include more finger foods and pizzas as well.

Firehouse Saloon is located at 814 S Clinton Avenue, and is open Monday-Thursday 3 p.m.-2 a.m., Friday 2 p.m.-2 a.m., and Saturday-Sunday 4 p.m.-2 a.m. For more information call 585-319-3832 or find the Firehouse Saloon on Facebook.