Kansas City-based J. Rieger & Co. has announced several key additions to its hospitality management team, as well as details about their new spirits destination experience. The distillery space will expand to 60,000 square-feet in Kansas City’s historic Electric Park neighborhood, allowing the team to complement their increased production capacity with one of the country’s most innovative cocktails and craft spirits experiences. The public opening is scheduled for July 2019 and will include multiple bars, tours, a gift shop, classes and private event spaces.
“As we prepare to open our doors this summer, we are entering a new chapter of the J. Rieger & Co. legacy in Kansas City,” says Ryan Maybee, Co-Founder and VP of Sales & Hospitality. “When we first launched in 2014, our focus was on resurrecting the brand, which meant creating the highest quality whiskey, gin and other spirits inspired by our vibrant history. We are extraordinarily proud of the national growth and recognition that we have accomplished and will apply that same high standard to shaping the future of our new home here in Electric Park. With this expansion we can add a visitors’ experience to our story while investing in our city and community. We are counting on the incredible talent of our hospitality team to host thousands of guests in their discovery of our spirits and cocktail culture.”
Rendering of the J. Rieger & Co. Exterior
A host of original, custom details and rich hospitality options designed for spirits lovers are plentiful in the up-and-coming J. Rieger & Co. facility. The Mercantile gift shop will offer bottles, merchandise, and local collaboration products like Rieger-filled chocolates from André’s. Guests can hand fill and label a personalized bottle of Kansas City Whiskey at a bottle station or take in a 3,000-square foot Kansas City historical exhibit curated by Dimensional Innovations. Another Kansas City first–designed with pure fun inmind–is a custom-engineered 40-foot slide that will ferry guests fromThe Monogram Lounge to the first floor. The historic location (once home to Heim Brewery) will even have its own custom beer: Heim Beer, a Helles-style beer produced in collaboration with KC Bier Co.
Cocktails and beverage service will flow from two full-service bar and lounge spaces: The Monogram Lounge, with seating for 200 and a bird’s eye view of the working distillery, open daily; and The Hey! Hey! Club, a cozy underground cocktail bar with room for 48 guests.
Rendering of The Hey! Hey! Club
Named after Kansas City’s rich cocktail history, the bar spaces have entirely state-of-the-art programs complete withdraft cocktails on rotation and a dedicated ice-cutting room able to churn out 200 pounds of crystal clear ice daily. In keeping with J. Rieger & Co.’s long record of collaboration with other local brands, and to encourage patrons to work, stay and play in the new space, they will continue their working relationship with Thou Mayest Coffee Roasters by offering coffee service starting at 9:00 AM daily.
Multiple events spaces are available, each carefully designed to create memorable experiences and highlight the excitement of being in a working distillery. These include flexible space options from corporate meetings to private celebrations, ranging from small groups to parties of 200 in the Tasting Room, The Monogram Lounge, Jacob’s Barrel Dining Room, and Alexander’s Board Room.
