Step back in time at Barboursville’s swank new speakeasy.
By Amy Deal, photos by Rick Lee
HQ 135 | AUTUMN 2026
Walk around the side of the old Thornburg house in Barboursville, approach the large glass door adorned with wrought iron bars and get ready to enter a world of bygone days. Welcome to Black Fox Social, Barboursville’s first — well, that we know of — speakeasy.
Speakeasies were secret, illegal bars that flourished in the United States during Prohibition, offering alcohol and entertainment while evading law enforcement. Because of the illegal alcohol trade and the effort and manpower needed to keep them supplied and protected from police raids, many were run by organized crime syndicates, and speakeasies are credited with helping propel figures like Al Capone to national notoriety.
The cool new venture in Barboursville is owned by restaurateur Jason Beter, his son Lukas Beter, Village Caregiving co-founders Matt Walker and Jeff Stevens and Village Caregiving CFO Ben Keenan.
No stranger to getting a business up and running, Jason Beter also owns Oscar’s Breakfast, Burgers & Brews, the 1861 Public House, Orbit’s Record Shop and Köerber Beer Company. It has been only a few weeks, but the new speakeasy is cultivating loyal customers and has hosted events for Marshall football and the Barboursville Wine Festival.
Gaining entrance to Black Fox Social doesn’t require a special knock, sliding peephole or secret password, but it is still a truly unique experience. After passing through the door, patrons will see the bar area with shelves filled with bottles of what were once illegal spirits. The bartender serves up wine, beer and classics like the old-fashioned and whiskey sour, alongside signature cocktails with names like Delete, Rinse & Repeat, Stay Gold and the Porch Swing. Guests can also enjoy a selection of ales from Beter’s brewery, located just down the street.
Deeper inside the speakeasy, visitors come upon one of Black Fox Social’s most memorable design elements: an old cistern, built into the floor. Through the Plexiglas covering, guests can peer down at a glowing turntable and a black fox the bartenders have affectionately named Todd. The cover is strong enough to hold plenty of weight, but first-time visitors rarely trust it, choosing instead to skirt around the display — even after Beter demonstrates its strength by jumping on it.
Farther back, a dimly lit room reveals clusters of tables perfect for friends catching up, couples on a date or entrepreneurs swapping ideas. Tucked into the back corner is a round table that seems made for a Prohibition-era mobster, positioned so its occupant could watch both the entrance and exit without ever turning around.
The entire experience feels like stepping back in time — or into a Prohibition movie. The brick walls are covered with photos of famous writers, including Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Harper Lee and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Shelves hold an array of old books, and a turntable sits on a cabinet surrounded by vinyl records just waiting to be played. One gets the feeling that if jazz were to start playing, flappers might suddenly appear, dancing to the music and letting their long strands of pearls fly.
In addition to a variety of fine spirits, the speakeasy offers bar snacks including roasted red-pepper hummus with pita chips, French onion dip with kettle chips, bacon jam with table crackers and premium tinned fish. The fish selections change weekly.
Beter says future plans include hosting even more events for the community. Outside the speakeasy is a large patio with plenty of seating and a giant television. More than 100 people gathered there in July to watch the United States soccer team compete in the World Cup.
Barboursville Mayor Chris Tatum said he’s excited to see another business open downtown.
“As mayor, I’m excited to see investments like Black Fox Social bringing new energy and new experiences to Barboursville,” he said. “Quality of life isn’t just about roads and parks; it’s also about creating places where friends gather, visitors linger and our downtown comes alive after hours. Black Fox Social is exactly the kind of thoughtful development that strengthens our community, supports local entrepreneurship and gives residents another reason to be proud to call Barboursville home.”
Black Fox Social is open Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 11 p.m., Friday from 4 p.m. to midnight and Saturday from noon to midnight.
Amy Deal is a freelance writer living in Barboursville, West Virginia.
