When musicians refer to their music as being “underground” they’re creating these songs out of love. The same could be said about Ronnie and his team’s unveiling of Snake & Barrel — Batch’s new basement cocktail bar.
“We’re not trying to hide but we also aren’t trying to be everything to everybody,” said Ronnie Spece, owner of Batch. “I wanted to have a little mystery spot — an ‘in the know’ kind of thing.”
Same address, different entrance
The underground bar at 118 E. Congress St., which is scheduled to open later this month, is the offshoot concept of the whiskey paradise Batch has been known to be since it opened its doors. Snake & Barrel, which is described as hiding in “plain sight with an understated entrance.”
“If anybody has walked down Congress — on our block — has walked right by the door and it’s likely no one has ever noticed it,” said Spece. “You know, it looks like this little storage door and it’s right there off the sidewalk of Congress. So, it is a different entrance.”
Therefore, the cocktail bar has its own doorway and you can’t get to it by walking through Batch on the top level. The basement’s hours of operation will also be different from the upstairs bar. As of right now, Snake & Barrel is planning on being open 5 p.m. – 1 a.m. on Wednesday – Saturday, which is subject to change.
As you can see in these photos, the 2,000-square-foot space is still getting its final touches. The 35-foot bar is hard to miss, though, and is going to offer a selection of spirits, beer, wine, and craft cocktails — well-done cocktails that won’t take several minutes to mix.
Other renovations in the works
In addition to the new bar, the team is building out a boutique bottle shop next door at 120 E. Congress St., which is currently the M.E.B. apartment’s lobby.
Here’s a history lesson about the building: It’s actually listed as the First Hittenger Block on the National Register of Historic Places and dates back to the late 1800s. The location housed a lot of businesses over the years including a piano store and the Harry A. Drachman Shoe Company.
Batch and Snake & Barrel are located at 118 E. Congress St. For more information, visit batchtucson.com and follow Snake & Barrel on Instagram.
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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.
