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Kaitlyn Freiling
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Kaitlyn Freiling
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Kaitlyn Freiling
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Kaitlyn Freiling
Bartenders bedecked in bandanas serve bourbon drinks as a rockabilly beat boomed in the background at 2234 W. Tuscarawas St.
There, Scott and Kim Shapiro toasted the town Southern style with their latest pop-up themed bar, That Moonshine Bar, open through May 19, 2018. Revelers can really embrace the Spring Break on the Lake theme with a shot of Blue Flame moonshine in a plastic toilet glass and the Red White & Trash moonshine and rum cocktail in a trash can cup.
But come summertime, patrons’ temporary tattoos are replaced by leis for a Tiki pop-up. It’s never the same party, but there’s always a reason to celebrate at the Shapiros’ rotating pop-up bar next to TD’s Tailgate Grill.
Since the Shapiros introduced their first pop-up, That Christmas Bar, to Canton last November, patrons have been arriving by party busloads for the temporary bar’s immersive theme park-type experiences.
“It took off like crazy,” says Kim, describing how That Christmas Bar, complete with bartenders dressed like elves and jolly drinks, delivered a National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation” Griswold family experience merrymakers couldn’t get enough of.
Crowds have been coming to the pop-ups ever since. That Chocolate Bar — with its chocolate heart-shaped shot glasses, dissolving cotton candy martinis and Oompa Loompa decorations — flourished and ended on a sweet note at the Shapiros’ “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”-themed bar during its February through March stint.
“It’s an element of fun to experience. We’re here for a limited time, then we’re going,” says Kim, explaining that the pop-ups stay in place for six weeks.
Coming up Memorial Day through Labor Day, That Tiki Bar promises to bring an island vibe to the Tuscarawas Street location’s 1,800-square-foot outdoor patio. Settled in sofas and Adirondack chairs while they sip Blue Hawaii cocktails garnished with fruit and edible flowers, That Tiki Bar coterie might have to pinch themselves as a waterfall spills in front of them. Lighted Tiki torches, a splash of sand, servers in Hawaiian shirts and some Jimmy Buffett in the background could present a getaway-worthy experience.
“When people go on vacation, they like to indulge in things like silly cocktails and souvenir glasses. They don’t have to go away to have that experience,” Kim says.
Keeping plans for their That Halloween Bar under wraps, the Shapiros aren’t quite ready to give up the goodies on their fall festivities. However, Scott says that he and Kim have some tricks and treats up their sleeves. “We’ll go over the top,” he says.
By the time Black Friday rolls around, That Christmas Bar will re-emerge. There, a Clark’s Christmas Bonus Old-Fashioned cocktail might just call for a chaser, Chevy Chase-style of course.
