Among the countless local holiday pop-up bars planned for this December, only one will be Hanukkah-themed.
Drastic Measures, a cocktail-only bar in Shawnee, Kansas, will transform into “Drastic Mensches” from Dec. 19 to 24.
Drastic Measures will go beyond simply redecorating their space for “Drastic Mensches.” Plans for the pop-up include an entirely unique, Hanukkah-themed drink menu, and half of all revenue will be donated to Jewish Family Services.
Pop-up bars — temporary bars that “pop-up” for a limited time, often taking over existing bars — are not new but, at least in Kansas City, a Hanukkah-themed one is certainly uncommon.
“In some major metros on the East Coast, people will host Hanukkah pop-ups, usually with a charitable donation as the intent,” Tristin Amezcua-Hogan said. He and his wife, Rebeca Amezcua-Hogan, are Jewish and will volunteer for the event and be consultants to make sure ‘Drastic Mensches’ is “a proper Jewish event.” They pitched the idea to Drastic Measures partner/operator Jay Sanders.
“We decided to do the ‘Drastic Mensches’ pop-up because we are tired of seeing all of these worn-out ‘holiday’ bar concepts taking over the bar and hospitality space for the entire month of December,” Sanders said. “I put ‘holiday’ in quotes because they are very clearly Christmas-themed bars. There’s just no representation for our Jewish friends to have their holiday be celebrated in such a lavish fashion in a public space.”
Sanders wants to offer “the same style of representation for our local Jewish community that the Christmas-celebrating community gets” at many other pop-up bars. He said that the pop-up will have “in-your-face lighting” with blue and silver everywhere, a giant menorah and inflatable decorations that will be installed on the roof of the bar.
The bar aspect of the pop-up will not be overlooked. For the unique cocktails, Sanders said that the ‘Drastic Mensches’ team are researching, getting suggestions and inspiration from a wide range of Jewish foods, both Hanukkah-associated and not.
“You’ll probably see a sufganiyah-infused cognac cocktail — yes, we are infusing the actual doughnut into cognac — with macerated raspberry, lemon and aquafaba,” he said. “We are doing a gelt take on a negroni that is garnished with the chocolate coin, we are making a clarified shakshuka Bloody Mary riff, et cetera.”
In total, Sanders expects 10-12 unique cocktails specifically for the pop-up; the usual Drastic Measures menu will not be available.
As of writing, Jewish Family Services (JFS) will be the main recipient of half of the pop-up’s revenue. Sanders said that Drastic Measures is a small business, but he hopes the income during the pop-up will be higher than average.
“We are poised to work at a loss that week financially, but it’s people over profits in the most literal sense for that week,” Sanders said. “All our staff and partners are supportive and excited to do this. We are blessed to have the team we have.”
The entire Drastic Measures staff recently toured the JFS Brookside East location, speaking with people stocking the food pantry. Sanders and the bar’s team are working on other ways to help supply the JFS food pantry.
Drastic Measures has been outspoken about many causes, including voting, reproductive rights and fighting transphobia. The Amezcua-Hogans are excited that the bar is also helping fight antisemitism.
“In a time of very public antisemitism going on, we saw [‘Drastic Mensches’] as an opportunity to give back to Jewish spaces and to also use the very public face of a well-known bar in the area to stand alongside the Jewish community,” Tristin Amezcua-Hogan said.
“Drastic [Measures] has turned into an outspoken vehicle for supporting our community, and people can expect us to continue to do things to bring attention to important social movements or causes,” Sanders said. “We have the great fortune to have open minded and supportive partners and a low operating budget which allows us to donate money and still keep the business working at a profit. I can’t stress that enough, we are lucky to do what we do, and none of us take it for granted.”
Sanders said that ‘Drastic Mensches’ is intended to celebrate Hanukkah without appropriating it. Although the staff is not Jewish, Sanders said they want to honor their Jewish friends and guests by having Hanukkah and Jewish culture celebrated like Christian people have at Christmas pop-up bars.
“It’s our turn to celebrate them,” Sanders said.
Drastic Measures is located at 5817 Nieman, Shawnee, KS 66203. No reservations are accepted, and the pop-up will not be a ticketed event. More information about the bar is available at drasticbar.com and on its Facebook and Instagram pages.
