July 7, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by Highball.

When Rich Kowalczyk’s partner, Spencer, graduated with a doctorate in sociology last year, the Ohio couple went where her work took her.

That was to Sioux Falls, where she’s now a professor at Augustana University.

“She interviewed all over the country, and this is the one she enjoyed talking to, so this is where we went,” said Kowalczyk, who was working at a bartender in downtown Cleveland at the time.

Neither had been to South Dakota, but they quickly decided it was a fit.

“When you hear, ‘South Dakota,’ you make assumptions in your head. I never thought I’d be in South Dakota and enjoy it so much,” he said. “But it’s been wonderful.”

They moved in late July 2021 into a loft on downtown’s east side – which happened to be just up Eighth Street from another new addition to Sioux Falls.

Highball cocktail bar opened at the new Railyard Flats building on East Eighth Street about a month after Kowalczyk moved to town. While he wasn’t sure about continuing his bartending career, this proved an immediate match.

“I’ve always worked in dive bars,” he said. “So this definitely gave me a new take on the job as a whole, and it’s been really engaging to me and my creative side. It’s a whole new experience that’s drawn me in.”

He’s now the manager at Highball, helping grow a team committed to delivering the same experience.

“While we’re always open to talking to people, we are fully staffed, which is great,” he said. “We’ve got some new people in, and we’re training them.”

Guests at Highball will discover a welcoming place any time of day – whether catching up over cocktails after work or a late-night stop.

“That was the goal from day one – a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously while giving a level of service and excellence you’d find in a high-end cocktail bar,” Kowalczyk said. “You can come and have a small romantic time, or you can come on a Friday and it’s a party, and I think we do both well.”

Customer-favorite cocktails include the Verdita Margarita, which features a jalapeno- and cilantro-infused tequila base.

“It’s been on the menu since day one, and people come just for that,” he said. “We also have a wonderful Old-Fashioned we pre-batch and age in oak barrels. And we’re getting to a place where we’ll be rolling out seasonal menus throughout the year.”

For food, think about the “ball” in Highball, and you’ll understand the inspiration behind the signature cheese ball, a crab Rangoon version served with fried wonton chips.

“That’s everyone’s favorite, and we also offer a seasonal cheeseball,” Kowalczyk said. “Our current one features cream cheese, cheddar, garlic and onion powder, pickle and fresh dill.”

And this time of year, guests love the patio, which wraps around the building and looks out at the changing downtown landscape.

Now, as both Kowalczyk and Highball prepare to mark their first year in Sioux Falls, the manager said he couldn’t be happier.

“I love it more than I ever thought I would,” he said. “You think of South Dakota as rural farmland with nothing but open field, but in this pocket we have all the food, the bar scene, and the people are refreshing. I got lucky falling in with the group that owns Highball because I’ve had a really easy time meeting people and making friends. And I’m still going to places for the first time, so I have much more to find out.”

The Highball File

• What: A cool cocktail bar along the railroad with a cheeseball you’ll crave.
• Where: 440 E. Eighth St., the first floor of Railyard Flats.
• When: 3 p.m. to midnight, Tuesday through Saturday.
• Connect: facebook.com/Highballcocktailbar or @highball_dtsf