Popular Optimist Hall space reopens with holiday bar — plus a new business coming soon
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Sugarplum Social's "Don't Flurry Be Happy" cocktail — if you like absinthe, you'll love this one. Photo: McKenzie Rankin/Axios
A new holiday pop-up bar called Sugarplum Social is pouring festive cocktails in the former Billy Sunday space at Optimist Hall through Dec. 28 and will turn into a new bar after.
Why it matters: Billy Sunday closed abruptly in May, leaving the Chicago-based cocktail bar's Charlotte location empty. Now, a new hospitality group and several former Billy Sunday employees are reviving the space for the holidays before transforming it into a new neighborhood bar.
What to expect: A similar look and feel to Billy Sunday's past holiday pop-ups, complete with 10 holiday-inspired cocktails ($16-$18) and two heated igloos available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sip on this: Highlights include the "Prosecco-ho-ho-ho," a take on a French 75 served in a snow globe, and the "Don't Flurry Be Happy," made with gin, absinthe, Luxardo liqueur, orgeat and lemon.
- There'll be classic holiday drinks, like eggnog and mulled wine.
- You'll also find seasonal shots (think candy cane or apple pie), shotskis and festive beers like Sycamore's Christmas Cookie winter ale.
Between the lines: Sugarplum Social comes from Hibernian Hospitality Group, which operates The Bar at Optimist Hall (formerly Spindle Bar), Charlotte Beer Garden, Canopy and Syn in South End.
If you go: Sugarplum Social runs Thursday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 28.
- Hours are Monday-Thursday 4-10pm and Friday-Saturday 2-11pm. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- The bar will offer indoor standing room, and once capacity is reached, it will start a waitlist.
What's next: After the pop-up ends, Hibernian plans to convert the space into a new bar. Details, including the opening timeline and name, are still to be determined.