Johnson County’s new speakeasy-style lounge is hidden behind a bookcase
A few weeks ago, an Instagram page with a darkened profile picture popped up, posting a series of black squares and redacted invitations.
“To: ___ ___,” one post reads. “The ___ social club humbly requests your presence for a secret meeting on January 16th at 5:00 p.m. involving ___ ___ ____ but not limited to __.”
Those who type the provided address into their GPS will find themselves on the backside of the Mission Farms shopping center. Behind blackened windows and an inconspicuous sign at 10519 Mission Road is The Blacklist, a recently opened wine bar with a secret.
If you’re sufficiently intrigued, partners Carlos Avalos, Megan Allen, Laramie Busch and Jeffrey Gabrielson have done their jobs.
During an interview with The Star on Tuesday, Gabrielson sat on one side of the bar — called “the dark side” — and pointed to a brighter section around the corner where a bookshelf will soon go. He let Star readers into the secret: The bookshelf door will open to reveal the darker half.
Customers who are unaware of the bookshelf’s revolving feature can still enjoy “the light side” immediately by the entrance, which features the same drinks.
“We want it to be, when you first kind of look to the left, this doesn’t exist,” Gabrielson said, pointing to the spot where the hallway narrows. “Makes you feel like you’re part of something special, secret.”
For now, though, both the light and dark halves are open. There’s no revolving bookshelf in place just yet.
“We kind of want people to see everything we have to offer,” Gabrielson said.
Gabrielson, a KC native, was previously a part-owner of two bars in San Francisco, The Wine Jar and Noir Lounge.
But growing up, Gabrielson admits, he felt like was blacklisted. He wasn’t always the kid parents wanted their children to hang around.
“I think my whole life I kinda always gravitated towards those people who might’ve always been an outcast,” he said. “We just kinda wanted to create a refuge for those people.”
His upbringing influenced the bar’s name.
Both sides have the same antique feel, with a hodgepodge of furniture and decor the team found thrifting and scrolling through Facebook marketplace. It’s not mimicking the Prohibition era — there’s a glowing TV.
“I love the idea of vintage, but take some of that stuff and modernize it,” Gabrielson said.
A history lesson: To hide their cocktails, Prohibition imbibers would drink out of coffee and teacups. The team plans to add a special drink with an espresso shot on top to disguise the alcohol underneath.
Avalos, the mastermind behind the bar’s menu, has been a bartender for the past 13 years and creates cocktails for Voo Lounge.
“I thought it was important to have a few cocktails that were part of the Prohibition era,” Avalos said. “We have some that are a little more modern as well. … There’s something for everyone.”
His menu includes cocktails like The Hive (black tea-infused gin, lemon, sage, rosemary, honey, orange bitters) for $14, Razzling (botanical gin, Benedictine, lemon, raspberry, herbal tea and egg white) for $13, and Old Sport (bourbon, rum, Benedictine, coconut sugar, vanilla, and coffee reduction) for $15.
The spot also has an extensive wine list.
For now, it’s walk-ins only. Gabrielson said he wants to add a password system eventually.
“Everybody likes to be part of something secret or special,” he said.
This story was originally published January 22, 2026 at 5:15 AM.