New Kansas City rooftop bar will be ‘modern bar with a vintage feel’
Victoria George, creative director of Callidus Hospitality, and marketing manager Chloe Lane shared a slide deck with The Star depicting their vision for a new bar in the Crossroads:
Cherry red Cadillacs, checkered floors, swiveling diner chairs, jukeboxes, playing cards and lipstick stains on napkins.
They’re calling it an homage to Midwestern summers — an ode to the quiet grit of a flyover state. Or, as the tagline goes: “A toast to then, a cheers to now.”
Bar Phoebe is gearing up for its opening in the Holtman, a building being redeveloped by Molzer Development at 18th and Holmes streets. They hope to open it in late May or early June.
“It’s a modern bar with a vintage feel,” George said. “When you think of good ‘ole Midwestern bars, that’s what Phoebe is going to exude.”
The slide deck includes renderings of the space, which will have light oak, leather chairs and mid-century modern light fixtures. The indoor-outdoor space on the rooftop on the building will seat more than 200.
Bar Phoebe is named after Phoebe Jane Ess, a women’s suffragette and activist in Kansas City founded multiple women’s clubs. And, according to their research, she loved to socialize.
“Very Great Gatsby of Kansas City vibes,” George said. “We’re not completely married to her as a concept, but she definitely was the inspiration for the name.”
Like Ess, Bar Phoebe is meant to be a place for Kansas Citians of all walks of life. Dress up or dress down. Come in a social group, come for a date night, or come alone.
“It’s truly a place for everyone,” George said. “We don’t want care who you are, as long as you have a good time, and that’s what Phoebe’s thing was as well.”
They don’t want to spoil the menu, but it’ll have familiar menu items, with a twist. Cocktails and food alike will further play on the Midwestern summer theme.
“You’re gonna see a lot of your nostalgic Midwestern foods done up in a culinarily excellent way,” George said. “We’re doing it in a way that feels inventive and elevated.”
That said, they won’t be too convoluted. They still want everything on the menu to be approachable and down-to-earth. Just like the heartland.
Plus, it’ll have “definitely, I think, the best burger in Kansas City, hands down,” George said.
“It really is a love letter to Kansas City,” George added. “It’s a very creative, artful project.”
Meanwhile, Molzer Development is transforming The Holtman into office, commercial and residential space. Built in 1918, The Holtman formerly housed Holtman Heating Co.
Molzer is also transforming the Aladdin Hotel downtown, built in the 20s, into residential units.