Our Commitment to N/A Drinks
Alcohol has a complicated history in queer culture—not that long ago bars were one our only safe spaces, where people went to find community and cope with trauma. While we offer alcohol and are happy to serve it, we intentionally de-center it at CPC. One way we do this is by ensuring most of our specialty cocktails have non-alcoholic versions that look just like the boozy ones. This way, no one can tell who’s drinking alcohol and who’s not. There’s no spotlight on anyone’s choice, and everyone feels comfortable. Plus, we always serve thoughtfully crafted, delicious N/A beverages, giving you multiple options depending on your taste.
Fun and Themed Drinks
For Dyson, our bar manager, creativity is on of the best parts of the job. He gets to explore fun cocktail ideas from TikTok and the internet, and loves coming up with themed drinks that match the events we’re planning—sometimes the drink idea even comes first! It’s this sense of fun and joy that keeps us engaged and excited about what we do. We strive to keep things fresh, regularly introducing new cocktails and mocktails while ensuring our bar service remains fast and efficient. We love what we do, and we hope that enthusiasm shows.
Limited Liquor and Beer Selection
Running a bar with an extensive selection means keeping a lot of money tied up in inventory. The larger the selection, the more cash is just sitting on the shelves, waiting to be sold. Stocking a wide range also increases the chances of running out of certain products, requiring big restocks to replenish. That’s why we keep our bar program lean and focused. While this might mean we don’t always have the ingredients to make every drink you desire, it allows us to operate more efficiently and sustainably.
Batched Mixes
We specialize in batched cocktails, which lets us flex our creativity while keeping things streamlined. By preparing drinks in bulk, we can work with a wider variety of ingredients and create complex flavors without the inefficiencies of making each cocktail to order. It keeps service quick and smooth—most cocktails only require two or three components in each glass, but still deliver a delicious, nuanced experience.
Alcohol sales are typically a major profit driver for bars and restaurants. Many venues rely on the high margins of alcoholic beverages to stay afloat. At CPC, we often serve $3 non-alcoholic (N/A) drinks instead of $10 cocktails, which naturally means lower revenue at the end of the night. We’ve accepted that by focusing less on alcohol, we’re embracing a different financial model. This also impacts tips, which is why we choose to pay our bartenders an hourly wage instead of relying on gratuities. We believe in owning our decisions and the outcomes that come with them, and this approach reflects our values.