There's only one way to get into Janitor's Closet, a secret new speakeasy that's hidden inside boutique hotel FieldHouse Jones. Guests walk through the hotel lobby and take a staircase to the lower level before entering a door marked "Employees Only." Once inside, curiosity seekers are rewarded with intriguing cocktails and an ultra-intimate setting.
The aptly named bar is housed inside an actual former janitor's closet, a relic of the building's past as Borden Dairy Depot. Janitor's Closet has just 15 seats, including stools at the bar and booths made to look like seats from an old school bus. The interior is decked out in antiques from flea markets and thrift shops, and the walls are lined with Pine-sol boxes, shaggy mops and vintage paint canisters.
Jef Tate (Moneygun) oversees the bar program, with a menu of riffs on classic cocktails crafted with intriguing ingredients like okra-infused vermouth and black garlic kombucha. The Brown Line blends mezcal, tequila, pineapple, tamarind and lime, while the Cafe Con Leche Flip is a pick-me-up in a glass with rum, coffee, heavy cream, simple syrup and egg yolk.
"When people come into Janitor’s Closet, I want them to get the vibe that they can be anywhere in the world," says Tate. "I want the space to evoke a sense of wanderlust, and be a place where locals and travelers can meet, share stories and feel the comfort of being surrounded by friends and family."
The bar menu also includes wine and locally crafted beer from the likes of Middle Brow Beer Co. and Hopewell Brewing Co. On the food front, Janitor's Closet offers 16 empanadas from fan-favorite 5411 Empanadas. The bar debuts to the public on Tuesday, April 16 and will remain open Tuesday through Saturday from 5pm to 1am; reservations can be made via Resy.
Photograph: Dan Kelleghan
Photograph: Dan Kelleghan
Photograph: Dan Kelleghan
Photograph: Dan Kelleghan
Photograph: Dan Kelleghan