From Salt Lake to Vegas: Behind the Scenes of Our Bar-Hopping Research Adventure

 


When you’re building a dream from the ground up—especially one that involves cocktails, community, and killer design—sometimes the best inspiration comes from the road. Over the last few months, Scott and I have been making the scenic drive between Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, stopping at every kind of bar we can find along the way. From classy rooftop lounges to cozy dive bars tucked in forgotten corners, we’ve been soaking up everything.



Why? Because we want Coal Creek Taproom & Eatery to feel just right.

This wasn’t just an excuse to sip a few (okay, maybe more than a few) great cocktails. We were studying every detail—how the lighting changed the mood of a room, how certain furnishings made people want to linger longer, and how the best bars crafted drinks that told a story. We took notes, snapped photos, scribbled flavor combos, and asked bartenders way too many questions (bless them).



We explored sleek industrial lounges with all kinds of accents and leather booths, and we dove headfirst into small-town bars with creaky floors and a whole lot of charm. We paid attention to everything—how a curved bar changes guest interaction, how the right soundtrack affects the vibe, and how certain textures make a space feel inviting or exclusive.



Every stop taught us something new about what makes a bar work, and what makes it feel unforgettable.

The most exciting part? Taking all these ideas and distilling them (pun intended) into something uniquely Coal Creek. Think moody lighting with copper touches, bold yet comfortable furnishings, and cocktails that balance elevated flavor with down-to-earth storytelling.


This research journey wasn’t about copying—it was about curating. We want our guests to walk into the taproom and feel a little bit of everything we loved on the road, reimagined with our local spirit and speakeasy soul.




As we put the final pieces into place—sourcing the perfect glassware, picking out the bar lighting, and finish up crafting a menu full of personality—we just wanted to say thank you. Thanks for cheering us on, and for being as excited as we are.

We can’t wait to welcome you into a space that’s been inspired by miles of road, dozens of bars, and a whole lot of heart.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A little bit about Amber

Image
 Hi everyone!! I’m Amber Kate, my family jokes that I should’ve been named Amber Cake because of my raging sweet tooth and passion for baking treats!!  I am the youngest of 4. My parents are business minded people and raised me to be the same. I grew up helping at gun shows and started working at the family grocery store as soon as I could reach the keys on the cash register standing on my tiptoes. I grew up in a super tiny town and loved claiming it as my own little wonderland ready to explore. Riding bikes, roller blading, night games, walks in the creek, daily lunch with my folks at the local cafe, camping, and of course playing store in the attic or basement of the old historical building were what filled my days.  After graduating high school I moved to Cedar City and started my family right away!! As a young mom, I became passionate about what’s best for children and spend hours and hours attending classes, workshops, conferences, and trainings to become well versed...
Read more

A little bit about Scott

Image
From Troy NY to Cedar City UT:  My journey through food, family, and big dreams growing up in Troy, New York, I was surrounded by blueprints, work boots, and the steady rhythm of the construction world. Entrepreneurship was in my blood- it ran deep through my family’s legacy in the building trades. I learned early on what it meant to build something from the ground up, not just with tools and materials, but with grit, vision, and long hours. But life had more in store for me than concrete and cranes. It came in the form of a friendship- one that would change the course of my life.  I met Executive Chef Brad Stevens, and through our shared love of food and hospitality, I caught the bug!! I was hooked on the energy of a kitchen, the creativity of crafting a menu, and the satisfaction of offering guests more than just a meal, offering them an experience. From humble beginnings, working in bistro’s, partnering in a banquet hall, to a full service restaurant and lively bar, New Yor...
Read more

Building Coal Creek Taproom With My Person

Image
Scott and I? We’re building a bar.  While we still love to bond over cozy movies on the couch, hiking around beautiful So. UT, or sitting on a country road watching the sunset with the music a little too loud. Things have changed a bit! Our cooking in the kitchen together now always includes restaurant planning. Dressing up to go sip cocktails is now a business venture. Research, planning, discussing flavors and presentation, and meeting musicians. Long Sunday drives become business meetings with planning, calendaring, and discussing. While we notice out lives are changing, our relationship continues to grow and strengthen. We have a lot of fun and turn every day into some kind of adventure! So what are we up to lately? We’re just building a bar :) Not just any bar—a moody, industrial style speakeasy vibe where every corner holds a secret, every cocktail has a story, and every guest feels like they’ve just stumbled into something special. From the first sketch to the last br...
Read more