Cocktails, tapas mix well at new bar, 120 South
Nick Walsh, 25, pours a glass of wine as a bar tender at One Twenty South on Oct. 7, 2015.
Fans of crime movies and artisan cocktails may have a new hangout in 120 South, a cocktail bar and fine dining restaurant now open in downtown Mount Pleasant.
The bar, which specializes in wine, from-scratch cocktails and small-plate "tapas," opened this month at 120 S. University Ave. It is open from 4 p.m. until midnight Tuesday through Saturday.
Adorned with the mugshots of famous gangsters -- and a liquor stockpile that would make Eliot Ness blush -- 120 South is steeped heavily in the speakeasy aesthetic. The play on history and American fashion is what co-owner Chris Stovak hopes will attract a "cultured" clientele.
"(120 South) is for those looking to expand their horizons," said Stovak, a 2004 Central Michigan University graduate. "It doesn't feel like Mount Pleasant here. We want our guests to feel like they're getting away from the norm."
120 South is open from 4 p.m. until midnight, Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 989-817-4433.
Even with the building itself plays with crime tropes -- Stovak said it was once an Isabella County Sheriff's post.
"Originally we wanted to do a true 'speakeasy' with whiskey products, but we thought that might date itself," he said. "Seeing as this was once a jail, we were still able to play off of that era."
Featuring more than 200 different types of liquor, 120 South cocktails feature fresh ingredients, fruits and house-made purees. To soak up the careful concoctions, 120 South's kitchen offers Spanish "tapas" with an American twist. Tapas are small appetizers and hors d'oeuvres that can be served hot and cold.
Dressed in a light grey suit -- fitting for a restaurant owner or character in "The Godfather," Stovak rattles off the complex menu: scallops, prawns, fillets, baby back ribs and ginger chicken thighs. 120 South will change its menu quarterly and seasonally to mix it up.
For dessert, 120 South sells baked goods created by neighbors Max & Emily's Cafe Bakery, a Mount Pleasant staple.
Prices range from $6-$15. Still, Stovak thinks 120 South could complement other "date-night" establishments downtown, like Midori Sushi Bar or Camille's on the River.
"We're looking to attract young professionals, but college students are definitely welcome here," he said. "Some Greek Life students came in and thought it would be perfect for some events or as a great place to get dressed up at for a date."
For more information, visit 120 South's Facebook page or call 989-817-4433.
