There’s a heck of a lot you can do at Black Lodge. Rent movies, play board and arcade games, sing the night away at karaoke, have a multi-course paired dinner, or even swing around a broadsword while encased in a full suit of armor.
Now, one of the last physical video rental stores lets you take a step back in time to the heyday of old Hollywood. The Masquerade at Black Lodge cocktail bar launched in early November, with a menu boasting a variety of both unique and classic craft cocktails, curated by Aaron Ivory, former manager at the now-closed Pantá of Overton Square. Diners who frequented the former Spanish tapas restaurant could expect fun, bold, and dramatic themed nights and dazzling colorful drinks with Ivory behind the bar, and that same energy has found itself a new home on Cleveland Avenue. But this time with a cinematic twist.
“We mostly want to focus on classic cocktails in what feels like a classic Hollywood environment,” says Ivory, “so things like old fashioneds, negronis, champagne cocktails, mojitos.” Behind the bar, a large TV screen matches the mood, showing old black-and-white movies.
“We’ve done a lot of different things here,” says Black Lodge bar manager Annabelle Dorff, “and this is just another way that we can incorporate bringing the movie scene into the bar industry and mashing those together. The moment since I started working here, I’ve been looking at this section [of Black Lodge] closest to Cleveland, and I thought it would be a great cocktail bar. Then Aaron came in with a lot of experience and knowledge and helped bring that to fruition.”
For Ivory, Masquerade is a way to introduce new drinkers to foundational cocktails. But he also refers to it as the anti-bar of Memphis. “People like to go out on Friday and Saturday and pack bars, but we’re approaching it differently here, a Sunday to Thursday schedule that won’t conflict with weekend programming. We want this to be more of a chill spot. It gives people who want to go out, grab some good cocktails in a less crazy or calmer setting, or go on a date, a different option.
“I think of it like this,” he continues. “We’ve got a lot of great cocktail places popping up like Cameo, Inkwell, Art Bar. Let’s say, Cameo are the cool kids, the popular kids, and deservedly so. But we want to be that cool kid sitting over on the bleachers, smoking a cigarette. I want to hang out with that guy, and that’s the kind of vibe we’re going for here.”
Frequent patrons of Pantá might notice some familiar drinks on the menu, too. “There are cocktails that I created there that I wasn’t ready to give up yet, so I’ve retained a few. I also built up an appreciation of different types of wine working there, so we’ve got German, Spanish, Portuguese, and American vintages here.” For those in need of a slightly different kind of buzz, Masquerade serves coffee to perk up any drooping eyelids.
While there may not be a full food menu, Masquerade has several small plates to fix outstanding hunger pangs. “We’re looking at smaller plates for now,” says Ivory, “something to get salt on your palate while you’re drinking.”
Masquerade is open Sunday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., and is designed as a foil to Black Lodge’s regular bar and restaurant on the opposite side of the building, which will continue to operate separately. Much of Masquerade’s programming going forward will happen on Mondays, oriented around service-industry workers’ schedules.
But Ivory is just happy to be behind the bar again. “I just love making cocktails for people. I love doing my part and giving somebody a great night.
“If all goes well,” he adds, “it’s another part of the effort to get Cleveland rockin’ and rollin’. You’ve got Flip Side, Art Bar, us, Hi Tone, Crosstown Brewery. I don’t see why it can’t be another South Main or Cooper-Young area.”
