PHOENIX — As the team behind UnderTow rebuilds its immersive cocktail bar in its new home inside the Century Grand building, the space next door at Sip Coffee and Beer is about to be transformed into an immersive cocktail lounge.
Josh Katz, the owner of Sip Coffee and Beer, his business partner Maurice “Moe” Murillo, and mixologist Sheldon Wiley — who holds three Guinness World Records for the most cocktails made in a minute and in an hour, and for making the largest Negroni cocktail — have partnered to open "36 Below" in the former UnderTow space, near 36th Street and Indian School Road in Arcadia.
“We hope to create the most immersive experience in Arizona,” Katz told ABC15, noting that their team has “some big shoes to fill.”
He did not want to reveal too many details, but said the lounge would be light, open and airy, would feature audio and visual effects, and would have “lots of plants and flowers.”
“Let’s say, it’s going to be lush,” added Murillo.
“You’re literally going to walk in through Sip Coffee & Beer and you’re going to go down into this whole different world,” said Katz.
Behind the bar, the menu will feature a healthy lineup of martinis (the bar’s tagline is “modern martinis”) and cocktails, plus a small selection of wine and beer, they said. For those who do not drink, they will also have mocktails and other non-alcoholic offerings.
For those looking for something to have, the plan is to have appetizers and shared plates, including plant-based items.
In terms of the size of the space, Katz said the main seating area would remain the same at 600-square-feet, but they plan on adding a 100-square-feet room to either host private parties or larger groups.
The layout will also change. There will be less seating around the bar and more tables — mostly two tops, he said.
To enter, people will still descend down the stairs but will enter from a different area and teased that there would be something that pays homage to the building, which was once an oil change business.
Demolition is expected to begin next week, following by the build-out, which is expected to take four to six weeks, Katz said. As long as that timeline sticks, the bar is expected to open in mid-March.
For updates, visit www.36belowaz.com or its Facebook page.
