EASTON, Pa. – A new cocktail bar will be “shaking things up” later this winter in the Lehigh Valley.
Presley’s Cocktail Bar, an “upscale dive bar” offering elevated cocktails, local wine, craft beer and snacks in a vibrant atmosphere, is expected to open in February at 159 Northampton St. in downtown Easton, co-owner CJ Moyer said.
For the past three years, Moyer and his partner, Ryan Moran, have been operating Presley’s Cocktail Bar as a mobile business.
The mobile cocktail bar, which is continuing to operate, features professional mixologists and tailored experiences for weddings, corporate events, backyard parties and other events.
The brick-and-mortar location of Presley’s will be a separate business entity, but it will operate under the same Presley’s umbrella, Moyer said.
It will be a joint venture between Presley’s and Cellar Beast Winehouse, which ceased operations of its tasting room - Cellar 159 - at the same Northampton Street site on Monday.
In 2022, the Schuylkill County winery established Cellar 159 as a satellite location, offering the winery’s full assortment of premium, Old World-style wines.
Cellar Beast wines will continue to be offered, along with Pennsylvania beers and spirits, at the Northampton Street location, Moyer said.
Presley’s customers also will be able to purchase exclusive reserve wines, and Cellar Beast Wine Club members will still be able to pick up their wine shipments at this location.
“We’re really excited,” Moyer told 69 News on Thursday.
“Cellar Beast is not leaving this location at all. We’re just partnering with them to change the concept to Presley’s Cocktail Bar.”
In addition to operating Presley’s, Moyer is a co-owner of the five-month-old La Maya Mexican restaurant on Main Street in Hellertown.
La Maya’s bar manager, Jean Carlos Jimenez, will serve as a partner at Presley’s in Easton and spearhead the new bar’s drink menu, Moyer said.
Presley’s customers will be able to enjoy a wide array of classic and signature cocktails.
“When we say upscale dive bar, we don’t mean everything will be upscale in price,” Moyer explained.
“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 will source spirits from popular regional distilleries, including County Seat Spirits in Allentown and Philadelphia area brands such as Stateside Vodka and Bluecoat Gin.
There also will be craft beer, including three to five draft selections, along with a limited food menu consisting of snacks such as nuts, popcorn and charcuterie.
The partners are updating the space with new cosmetic touches, but it’s “basically a turn-key location,” Moyer said.
“We’re going to elevate the space with new design aesthetics, but we’re also going to use a lot of the elements that are already in there because they’re really nice,” Moyer explained.
Presley’s in Easton, with bar and table seating for around 40 customers, will initially operate 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
Hours may expand down the line if customer demand warrants it, Moyer said.
The space also will be available to rent for private parties, including birthday parties, bridal showers and business meetings, with catering options available from La Maya.
In opening Presley’s, the partners primary goal is to offer an “elevated cocktail experience,” one that is lacking in the Lehigh Valley, Moyer said.
The difficulty in finding great local spots for cocktails is a struggle that Moyer’s experienced himself and also discussed with several other service-industry workers.
“There’s kind of a hole in the Lehigh Valley’s restaurant scene, where we as industry workers – including managers, servers, bartenders and cooks – struggle to find a spot to enjoy a great drink after work,” Moyer said.
“When you’re finally done with your 8- or 12-hour shift, you’re exhausted and all you want to do is grab a nice cocktail or drink. Unfortunately, there’s not many good locations around here for that. There’s a lot of dive bars and small pubs that stay open late, but there’s not much that’s elevated. So, we’re calling it an upscale dive bar because you’ll be able to get a well-crafted negroni, a perfect old fashioned or another cocktail of your choosing late-night.”
Presley’s mobile cocktail bar is continuing operations and currently accepting bookings.
“Our mobile cocktail bar will still be available for weddings, parties, and events!” the partners announced on Presley’s social media pages. “Cheers to February — we’re shaking things up, Easton!”
For the latest Presley Cocktail Bar updates, follow the business’ pages on Facebook and Instagram.
