Juice Bar by Day, Speakeasy by Night Coming to Edelweiss Site
A concept new to the Druid City is coming to Temerson Square in January when Tuscaloosa native Ken Cupp and his wife Cheyenne open Sage Juice Bar, which will transform each night into a craft cocktail speakeasy.
Sage is set to open in January in the space that used to house the Edelweiss coffee shop and German bakery.
The new concept will essentially be three businesses in one, Cupp said. Each morning at 6, they will offer cold-pressed juices, fruit bowls, "superfood" grain bowls and smoothies. After noon, the focus will shift to chef-driven shareable tapas plates to include calamari, fondue, stuffed mushrooms, buffalo tofu and much more. Each night, Sage will transform again into a craft cocktail speakeasy that will aim to feel secluded but not exclusive, to offer an accessible VIP experience to the patrons of Temerson Square. They will close up shop at midnight and start the cycle over again the next morning.
Cupp's family owns and operates similar businesses in New York and he said it was only a matter of time before someone brought the idea to Tuscaloosa.
"This is a big city idea that's really untapped in Tuscaloosa and we knew we needed to jump on it now," Cupp said.
The staff at Sage will aim to educate people about their fresh ingredients and the benefits they offer without being intimidating, Cupp said. People may not know how to pronounce acai or quinoa or kombucha but the Cupps don't want that to be an obstacle for ordering something fresh and healthy, so the menu will accessible to all. Their four smoothie bowls, for instance, will be named after the four BCS bowls -- Fiesta, Orange, Rose and Sugar.
The nightly speakeasy will feature happy hour specials, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic craft cocktails and a lounge atmosphere for folks who want a hangout in Temerson Square that's less about late-night partying and more focused on a social experience with a consistent, unique menu of drinks.
Cupp said he hopes to be open before the Spring semester starts in January. Stay tuned to this site and station for more info on Sage and the new-to-market experience it will bring to downtown Tuscaloosa.