Lehigh Valley residents looking for all the charm of a dive bar with none of the unsavory elements, get ready for your new favorite neighborhood watering hole. Presley’s Cocktail Bar, a new project from restauranteers CJ Moyer and Jean Carlos Jimenez, is coming to Easton this winter, reports local media outlet WFMZ.
Locals will be able to pull up a stool at 159 Northampton Street. Moyer projects that Presley’s will be open and ready to serve customers in February of this year. The space will allow Presley’s to welcome up to 40 customers, across bar and table seating. The concept will initially be open from 4 pm to 2 am, Thursday through Saturday, but ownership is open to the possibility of expanding the schedule, should local interest make it worthwhile.
The over 21 crowd might reasonably find themselves wondering what Moyer and company mean when describing Presley’s as an “upscale dive bar”-a phrase that seems contradictory in nature. Moyer addresses the seeming dichotomy, stating: “When we say upscale dive bar, we don’t mean everything will be upscale in price. You’ll still see some $5 standard mixed drink cocktails, like vodka clubs and gin and tonics, and then you’ll also see some classic cocktails such as a really good old fashioned, a Manhattan done really well and a great dirty martini. There also will be some more creative craft cocktails from Jean – stuff that’s a little bit more elevated. So, we’re essentially going to divide our menu into three parts – standard cocktails, classic cocktails and craft cocktails.”
Presley’s brick-and-mortar is an offshoot of Moyer’s mobile business of the same name. The new location will have no impact on the mobile business’s operations.
Vino fans can look forward to sipping vintages from Cellar Beast Winehouse. Presley’s will put a premium on partnering with local distilleries and breweries for spirits and draft beers. Hungry guests can nosh on a snack from the bar’s limited menu, which features charcuterie, nuts, and popcorn.