FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 17, 2026 (anticipated)

K-HOUSE Karaoke and Arts Hub to Open in the Historic Exchange Building, Honoring a Legacy of Community, Creativity, and Participation

ITHACA, NY — Ithaca based hospitality entrepreneur Alina Kim, founder of the award winning K-HOUSE Karaoke Lounge and Suites, announced today that K-HOUSE Karaoke and Arts Hub will open on February 17, 2026, at 121 W Martin Luther King Jr Street (121 W State St), inside the historic Exchange Building, longtime home of The Watershed and The Downstairs.

While K-HOUSE was originally slated to open next door, Kim says the decision to move into the Exchange Building became clear after Watershed and Downstairs owner Ashley Cake announced she would be closing her businesses at the end of 2025.

“This is not about taking over or replacing what Ashley built,” Kim said. “The Watershed and The Downstairs created something uncompromising and beautiful. When Ashley decided it was time to close, it felt both practical and deeply meaningful to step into a space already filled with creativity, care, and community, and to do our best to preserve some of that magic while building something new.”

K-HOUSE Karaoke and Arts Hub will be a day to night community space, combining a café, restaurant, karaoke lounge, live music venue, and arts hub. Programming will include karaoke seven nights a week beginning at 4 p.m., open mics, live performances, community events, and private rentals, with an intentional effort to continue some of the most revered and community loved programming traditions associated with The Downstairs.

Kim emphasizes that the transition is rooted in friendship, alignment, and mutual respect, not competition. Kim and Cake met more than a year ago through EmpowerHer, a local women’s empowerment networking group, and quickly discovered shared values around inclusivity, community building, and creative expression.

“What makes this especially meaningful is that Ashley and I were already friends,” Kim said. “We had aligned views long before this space entered the conversation. That makes this feel less like a business transaction and more like a ceremonial passing of the torch.”

Kim also sees the return of karaoke as deeply aligned with the ethos that made The Watershed and The Downstairs so beloved.

“Bringing back karaoke alongside live music is intentional,” Kim said. “At its best, karaoke is democratic, anti elitist, and welcoming, a space where people can step forward when they’re ready, support one another, and rehearse courage in public.” She notes that this philosophy closely mirrors the values that have long defined The Watershed and The Downstairs.

The former Downstairs space, now known as Room K, will serve as a primary home for live music and private events, hosting intimate performances alongside private parties of up to 60 people, while preserving the creative energy that made the space so deeply loved. Musicians interested in performing in this space are encouraged to reach out via the K-HOUSE Instagram page @khousekaraoke.

Anchoring the food and café program will be Farm to Feast NY, led by owners Jason Windsor and Mary Buell. The café concept is rooted in fresh flavors, simple ingredients, and thoughtful craft, featuring locally roasted coffee, their signature shokupan and ramen, and approachable, well made food that highlights local ingredients. Designed for both easy takeout and relaxed dine in, the café offers a conversational, welcoming environment well suited for remote work, casual meetings, or grabbing something nourishing to go.

“Our vision with Farm to Feast is to create a café that feels welcoming and rooted in community,” said Windsor and Buell. “Partnering with K-HOUSE allows us to connect good food, local producers, and comforting, exciting flavors with a space that already means so much to Ithaca.”

Farm to Feast NY will operate as a weekday café serving breakfast and lunch, with plans to expand into dinner service over time. On weekends, the focus will shift to a lively Saturday and Sunday brunch program, often paired with bluegrass and jazz. Initial hours will be Wednesday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

K-HOUSE will also continue the long running Traonach Live Irish Music sessions on the first and third Sundays of each month from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., carrying forward a beloved tradition previously hosted at the Argos, the Chapter House, and Micawbers.

Expanding Karaoke Through the K-HOUSE Pop Up Club

While the original K-HOUSE location featured 11 private karaoke suites, Rooms A through K, the downtown iteration embraces a more flexible, community based model through the K-HOUSE Pop Up Club.

The Pop Up Club is a collective of local venues and creative spaces that will host private karaoke rentals throughout Ithaca, allowing K-HOUSE to expand access to private karaoke experiences beyond a single location while reinvesting directly into local businesses.

Confirmed Pop Up Club members include Mama Goose, Treehouse Studio and Lounge, Mix Art Gallery, and NRE Space, with additional members to be announced.

“This model reflects our commitment to collective entrepreneurship, where independent businesses support one another, share opportunity, and help strengthen the broader creative ecosystem,” Kim said.

Gratitude for Lot 10 and Closing Out a Transitional Chapter

As K-HOUSE prepares for its downtown relaunch, Kim expressed deep gratitude to Lot 10, which served as K-HOUSE’s temporary home over the past six months.

“We are incredibly thankful to Lot 10 for giving K-HOUSE a place to land during a period of transition,” Kim said. “Their generosity allowed us to keep the music going and stay connected to our community while we worked toward our next chapter.”

K-HOUSE will close out its time at Lot 10 with its annual New Year’s Eve Pajama Party, a long running K-HOUSE tradition. This year’s celebration will feature a special blend of karaoke and drag performances. Titled “New Queers: Slumber Party and Karaoke Extravaganza,” the event will run from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. on December 31, hosted by Queen Tessential and Skarlet Killz, and will mark the final K-HOUSE event at Lot 10 before the launch of K-HOUSE 2.0 in the Exchange Building.

Supporting the Relaunch

As K-HOUSE prepares to reopen downtown, the business has also made gift cards available for purchase on its website, with proceeds directly supporting reopening costs and the relaunch of staff, programming, and operations.

“Every bit of support helps us rebuild, rehire, and reimagine K-HOUSE,” Kim said.

K-HOUSE Karaoke and Arts Hub is expected to open in February 2026, pending final inspections and permitting. Additional details about programming, hours, Pop Up Club locations, and opening events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Media Contact:
Alina Kim
Founder, K-HOUSE Karaoke and Arts Hub
khousekaraoke@gmail.com

(201) 838-3688
www.khousekaraoke.com

Instagram.com/khousekaraoke
Facebook.com/khousekaraoke

About K-HOUSE Karaoke and Arts Hub (formerly K-HOUSE Karaoke Lounge and Suites)

Founded by Alina Kim, K-HOUSE is an Ithaca based entertainment and hospitality brand known for inclusive karaoke, community centered programming, and support of local artists. The downtown location expands the concept into a full arts hub, café and restaurant, live music venue, and collaborative network through the K-HOUSE Pop Up Club.

K-HOUSE Karaoke and Arts Hub
www.khousekaraoke.com

www.facebook.com/khousekaraoke

www.instagram.com/khousekaraoke