About ten years ago, speakeasies became the thing in Kansas City. It was certainly a resurgence. We have a marked history when it comes to prohibition and violation of laws banning alcohol for consumption in the 20s and 30s. In my mind, it all started with Manifesto, located in the midtown area of KCMO. Little did we all know how popular that area, now known as the Crossroads, would become. In the beginning, it seemed you had to be in the know to in to Manifesto. Was the entrance a secret? It wasn’t too long before the secret was out.
More and more speakeasies were opened in Kansas City, and with that came an elevated cocktail scene. People were more willing to pay for the experience of watching a bartender mix up something extra special. They were okay with it taking a little time, because they got a show. The term “mixologist” came into use and it seemed sparingly used - only for the most deserving - before it became overused. Now, most of the more creative bartenders cringe at the word.There are less than a dozen bona fide speakeasies in KC but it’s really the perfect amount. There are dozens upon dozens of high-end bars that are above-ground and supplement the speakeasy scene here.
For a while, Manifesto had to shut down the physical location, but they still had a thirsty crowd to please. Their cocktails, vision, and staff began to randomly pop up at locations around town. That was another experience for their true fans to anticipate, wondering when they’d learn the dates and locations where Manifesto might just pop up.
In 2018, around holiday season, a new kind of experience was introduced to Kansas City. It was a popup bar that was holiday-themed and called Miracle at Rockhill. It was wildly popular, lines forming around the door for their festive experience.
With this in mind, it seems some of the owners and entrepreneurs in the cocktail industry started to chew on the concept. Probably a lot of cities’ residents like Halloween, but Kansas City sure seems to be one of the ones with a like of fright. Kansas City has some great haunted houses that open up for the season. There are a lot of pumpkin patches around town and many have hayrides - some family-friendly, some haunted. There are haunted bus tours, wineries, and so many more seasonal events to celebrate the chill of Halloween. This year, there are three Halloween-themed popup bars that I have learned about. Two are within year-round bars, where one area of their space is transformed. One is truly the popup of a cocktail bar.
John’s Big Deck is a bar that’s been popular for decades in Kansas City, with three floors, if you consider the rooftop. It’s always been a great rooftop, the second floor tends to have DJs or a band, and the first floor has more of a dive bar feel. It’s a great place to watch sports, as well. But this Halloween, they’ve created an event called Cheers for Fears and they have decorated their second floor into a themed space.
Julep is one of the high-end cocktail bars in Kansas City, with a great whiskey selection. They created their private dining area into “Something Wicked,” and after Halloween plan to turn the space over in less than a month to re-create it into a popup called Sippin’ Santa for the holidays.
Apparition owners call their concept a Spookeasy. It opened up in the space over a locally-owned artisan cinema theater in the city of North Kansas City. With only a lantern, you wind your way through an indoor maze to find your way to the bar. It seats only 50 and the maître d does not over-seat the space (there is no “standing room”). There are (an unlucky number of) 13 drinks to choose from, most are $13. (There is a Monster Squad drink for 2-4 people which is more expensive. It comes in a smoking cauldron.) It has been a rainy fall in Kansas City in 2019, but people are still lining up outside, waiting for the chance to be freaked. Kansas City residents are an open-minded cornucopia of customers who are always looking for a chance to try something new. Once word spreads, a good idea always catches on.
Manifesto: 1924 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri
Rockhill Grille: 2000 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri
John’s Big Deck: 928 Wyandotte Street, Kansas City, Missouri
Julep: 4141 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri
Apparition: 406 Armour Road, North Kansas City, Missouri
It was a fun time!