Tim and Morgan Stevens, the husband and wife team behind Ballyhoo (bookends – photo below), have unveiled their newest business enterprise in the form of a mobile cocktail service trailer. Dram Box made its first appearance at echo Art Fair last night. The fully stocked bar was an immediate hit, as curious customers ventured up to order draught beer, wine and cocktails from the stylish freewheeling saloon.
From start to finish, Dram Box took 16 days to build. Tim Stevens has been dreaming of the day that he could launch something of this nature, and it was one of the reasons that he came back to Buffalo when he did. Stevens wanted to create a bar that was highly unusual, and adaptable to numerous situations. Dram Box can be readily transformed in order to meet the expectations of events that range from weddings to festivals to corporate affairs. As long as it’s a sanctioned event, Dram Box can roll right up, and the professional bartenders can get right to work.
As for the the dos and the don’ts behind the business, every event is different in scope, according to Tim and Morgan. If event tickets are sold, or the event is private, such as echo, then a full bar can be offered up. Otherwise the rolling bar is relegated to beer and wine with appropriate permits. Last evening, the crafty bartenders were serving up beer, wine, Spring Rickys (gin, cucumber rosemary) and Fast Bucks (vodka, ginger vanilla). The drinks were a big hit, but it was the outrageous vehicle that stole the show.
When I first spotted Dram Box being built a week ago in the parking lot of Ballyhoo, I got a chance to look under the hood of the operation. The interior boasts saloon wallpaper, tufted leather bar rests, a classic Fender sound system, tap systems, refrigeration, stylish lighting, book shelves, and generator that will allow it to go anywhere. If there’s power available, then there’s no need for the generator. Dram Box can be converted from a wine bar to a scotch bar, or can simply serve as a draught station.
Apparently these types of rolling cocktail service operations are extremely hard to come by… anywhere. It’s a first for Buffalo and puts this city on the map for having a very unique party mobile on its hands. Kudos to Tim and Morgan for pulling this one off. Tim told me that he never could have done it in San Diego, and it turns out that Buffalo was the perfect city to roll it out.
