Popular cocktail lounge gets even better with new approach to the week

May 6, 2019

This paid piece is sponsored by JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars.

From live music to ever-changing cocktails and a commitment to outstanding service, there’s something happening every day at The 3.0 Cocktail Bar inside JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars off 57th Street west of Western Avenue.

“The response has been incredible,” said Paul Squyer, who oversees The 3.0 Cocktail Bar as the Director of Cocktail Culture.

“From the time we opened, it’s been hard to catch up, and I was overwhelmed by how well-attended we have been, even in January and February. We definitely get a happy hour neighborhood crowd, and now that the weather is improving, we know even more people are going to be discovering us.”

“While people are loving the bar as it is, it’s time to refine it even more,” owner Tom Slattery said.

“It was strong when it opened, but it’s so much better with the changes we’ve just made,” he said. “I can’t wait to see how our regulars respond and how our new visitors are going to like it.”

There’s so much happening, we must take you through day by day. Take a look at a typical week in The 3.0 Cocktail Bar!

Monday

The bar is open from noon to 10 p.m. with limited cocktail and very limited food service — think house-made pretzels, dips and crackers. Basic drinks, beer and wine are available for the post-work crowd or for an impromptu after-business-hours meeting.

“We will still be making a couple of our house cocktails like the ever-popular 3.Old-Fashioned and our House Gimlet,” Slattery said, “but the focus will be on wines by the glass and draft beers.”

Tuesday

The bar will be closed to the public during the day for staff training and will host the popular JJ’s Adult Beverage University in the evening. Events will be fairly regular Tuesday nights, offering cocktail-making classes, wine tastings and beer school.

The last Tuesday of every month through the summer will be a free product expo. JJ’s will have wineries, spirits providers and beer guys in and spread throughout the bar and event room to show off their products. The first event is May 28.

Wednesday

The bar will be closed for deep cleaning and staff training during the day, reflecting an increased emphasis on bar staff education.

“The training is giving us more consistency,” Slattery said. “So our staff is getting drinks out faster, which enables them to interact with customers a little more too. The more they know about our beverages, the more they can share with customers and create that relationship, which will serve all aspects of our business.”

Wednesday also will offer limited service from 4 to 10 p.m., with an increased focus on the whiskey and wine program, and also with some familiar faces behind the bar, raising money for local charities.

“Zac (operations manager) and I decided that we don’t really want to staff a bartender on Wednesday nights because our focus is on what he and I love best about the business: whiskey and wine.” Slattery continued.

“So we will be the ones taking care of you. We are also going to be accumulating any gratuities that come to us and donating them to local charities.” Their first donation will be going to Sioux Empire Pit Rescue as part of an event being held in The JJ’s Event Tent on June 1, sponsored by JJ’s and Tito’s Vodka, also raising money for the organization. More on that later.

The Boozy Bakery expands the food options starting on Wednesdays, as anything in The Boozy Bakery cases is available for your enjoyment.

Thursday

Things really ramp up in The 3.0 Cocktail Bar starting on Thursdays, when the full team is in place to serve guests from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.

There’s live music planned as well, including a can’t-miss theme night this Thursday, May 9, featuring an ’80s theme with appropriately dressed staff, a special cocktail menu and Janae Sturm playing from 10 p.m. to midnight.

“The ’80s were the dark age of cocktails,” Squyer said. “We’re taking bad ’80s cocktails and making them good.”

“The thought and energy that Paul is putting into these theme nights is mind-blowing,” Slattery said. The 3.0 Cocktail Bar will be holding a theme night on the second Thursday of the month.

Friday/Saturday

The lounge is open from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. with more live music every Friday and Saturday, starting at 7 p.m. and ending about midnight. Check the schedule to see who is playing and what time. And when there is no live music, the 3.0 house DJ, Jordan, will  supply the tunes through high-energy playlists.

“Jordan is a great asset as a bartender and an experienced DJ,” Slattery said. “His love of music and knowledge of what people are looking for is pretty cool!”

With the nicer weather coming and the patio doors open, you can’t ask for a better setting for a weekend evening or nightcap with a dessert from The Boozy Bakery.

There also are food trucks booked most late nights on Fridays and Saturdays in May in addition to the ongoing food options at JJ’s. All of the food trucks and other events are on JJ’s public event calendar at jjswine.com.

Sunday

This is a really fun addition. Maybe that’s why it’s called Sunday-Funday. From noon to 8 p.m., you’ll find half-price tap beers and “drain that bottle” wines by the glass along with limited cocktail service.

As if that’s not fun enough, there are beanbags and PutterPong, which combines golf and beer pong in a way you must experience to appreciate.

“We wanted to add an element on Sundays that catered to the food and beverage service industry workers, and we think this is the right approach,” Slattery said, adding that more fun games and activities are planned for later this summer.

The best way to keep up is to sign up for JJ’s VIP program with an email address. Visit the events calendar on jjswine.com, or subscribe to JJ’s public event calendar on Google – that way you can get email alerts when changes are made or new events are added or changed.

So, yeah, it’s a lot to process, but these guys plan on having fun this summer! Keep updated by following JJ’s social media pages: facebook.com/jjswine, twitter.com/jjswine and Instagram at @jjswinesf.

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Popular cocktail lounge gets even better with new approach to the week

“It was strong when it opened, but it’s so much better with the changes we’ve just made.” He’s not kidding. Check out everything new at the popular 3.0 Cocktail Bar inside JJ’s Wine, Spirits & Cigars.

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