Eat Drink & Live
More Than A Bar! By Allison Favila
W
hen Kacie and Chris Griffith met (“forever ago,” as she described it), they always knew they wanted to work together in the hospitality industry, although they weren’t exactly sure what form it would take. As they worked together at a bar, traveled, and soaked up knowledge about spirits and cocktails, their vision became clear.
In late 2019, they dove into obtaining licenses and finding the perfect location. After what Kacie described as a “series of fortunate events,” they found and were able to occupy the former bakery space at 713 Penn Avenue. They poured themselves into renovating the space, painting it the same colors they love in their own house, and installing beautiful plants and pillows and chairs – it truly feels like a cozy home. The Bar Cart’s specialty is the craft cocktail. Each one is made with a Pennsylvania spirit, and they update the list every week, focusing on local agriculture and highlighting the uniqueness of local liquor brands. In the spirit of putting a local or personal twist on the classics, each week’s menu includes a modified Old Fashioned. They have a beautiful selection of bitters that they 26
Avenues Spring 2022
also expertly use in many of their delicious creations. Foodies love chic, modern restaurants, and The Bar Cart is the equivalent place for cocktail lovers. But if craft cocktails aren’t your thing, they offer other PA products as well! Their cider comes from a fifth-generation farming family in Gettysburg, who approach their cider making almost like winemakers, experimenting with apple blends and pressing everything fresh. The wine at the Cart is from Stony Run, who grows their fruit in PA and pours lots of love into their products. There is also a rotating, local beer selection from small PA breweries – stop in, check out the current list, and ask the bartenders about it! Besides being able to drink some amazing PA spirits and beautifully crafted cocktails, one of the things that sets The Bar Cart apart is that it’s also a bottle shop. You can purchase the PA brands used in the drinks, including Kinsey whiskeys, Revivalist gin, Manatawny Still Works, and many more. If you love a cocktail, the staff will happily jot down the recipe, show you how to make it, and help you purchase the spirits and
