Just across the street from Fox Tucson Theatre, the side that faces Church Avenue, a train is rolling into town — sort of. The Phoenix-based Platform 18 cocktail bar and interactive experience is moving into the space that previously housed the Chapman Management Group.
The bar will be located in the basement of the building and will have a passenger train car seating area equipped with TV screens as windows, making it appear that you’re traveling along the tracks. The disclaimer on the site warns folks of “audio and lighting changes, low visibility, motion graphics, and occasional haze.”
I mean, you’re not exactly going to Hogwarts on this train, but some of the cocktails on the menu may feel like you’re zippin’ around on a broomstick (please drink responsibly).
Reservations are recommended for the Phoenix location which will likely be the same for the Old Pueblo bar.
“By booking a ticket (i.e., making a reservation), travelers will embark on a 90-minute journey that follows our fictitious hero, Hollis Cottley Pennington, a railroad tycoon and bootlegger, as he conducts business in the bayous of Louisiana. Guests will enjoy an opulent adventure to the 1930s while imbibing exquisite cocktails crafted by our team as well as tried-and-true classics from the 1930s and 1940s.”
The cocktail menu at Platform 18 features more than 40 cocktails such as classic concoctions, original cocktails, and even a few boozy ice cream and sorbet options. Now, the experience and the cocktail menu may be the same or completely different for us here in Tucson so we’ll just have to wait to find out.
The concept is owned by Mat Snapp who’s a partner at Barter & Shake, Executive VP of Operations across each concept, and a former beverage director for Fox Restaurant Concepts.
Stay tuned for more information on the actual opening date.
For more information about Platform 18, visit centurygrandphx.com.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
