First a hardware store, then a restaurant, Kitchens Hardware and Deli in downtown Mineola is transitioning into something new once again.

Starting in May, Kitchens is also a music venue for people 18+. They are aiming to have “at least a show a month” at the “new” venue, which Nathan Witt, Jolie Alonzo, Gabe Huff and Preston Radla are creating.

“We’re just kind of shifting how concerts work at Kitchens,” said Witt. “We don’t have any specific genre that we want to do; in fact, we’re trying our best to have shows in every popular genre in the area.”

This new function of Kitchens doesn’t mean that it will lose its restaurant/hardware store status.

In fact, it’s just adding its new music venue called “Kitchens’ Exit” onto everything else that it does.

“For a long time they’ve done concerts on that very tiny stage that they had; what is different now, is before, it was a bar that had live music, and now, at least on show nights, it’s live music that has a bar. And that’s just kind of the shift that it’s taking,” Witt explained.

In essence, the time-honored, local restaurant will be keeping its charm while adding another facet to its list of offerings.

While Witt and his co-creators are aware that Kitchens, which is currently for sale, might not stay a music venue forever, they’re willing to give it their best shot.

“We’re a group of 20-something-year-olds, this is our first time running a music venue or doing anything like this; and it kind of comes from a place of, we were just music fans, and we wanted to see live music happen,” he said. “So what we decided at the very beginning was, ‘If we’re going to do this, we’re going to make sure that we put a lot of intention, and effort, and attention into every single show that we do.”

Drop by Kitchens from 8 p.m.-midnight on certain days to experience the music venue. Visit the new venue’s Instagram page at @Kitchens.Exit to find information on what days live music will be held, what bands are playing, entry fees and more.