Client Feature: Drip Drop Cocktail Room
A taste of Manhattan’s cocktail vibes has landed on Bridge Street – and it’s been welcomed with open arms (and empty glasses!) since their November opening, says Drip Drop Cocktail Room owner Nick Adams.
Drip Drop Cocktail Room located at 445 Bridge St.
Photo courtesy of Drip Drop Cocktail Room
A DELICIOUS FAMILY HISTORY
Nick grew up in the food and beverage industry with a myriad of restaurants owned and operated by his father, Jeff, and grandfather, Jim, both of which fostered a generations-long commitment to hospitality in Michigan.
From British pubs, mile-long cherry bars, and tap handles galore, these restaurants have more than one thing in common, but premiere hospitality and the best food and drink top the list.
Drip Drop Cocktail Room at 443 Bridge St. NW
Photo courtesy of Drip Drop
WILL TRAVEL FOR FOOD
From a young age, Nick and his father traveled extensively to major culinary hubs such as New York, Chicago, Portland, and Austin. Along the way, they explored new cuisines, chatted with chefs and mixologists, and when he was of age, imbibed a little, too! They discovered a distinct parallel between good food and drink – you need both to have the perfect meal.
Photo courtesy of Drip Drop Cocktail Room
“We saw that craft cocktails get a lot of thought and effort put into their creation, just as a chef fine tunes a five-star meal,” says Nick.
As the odometers and airline miles amassed, so did their interest in craft cocktails. Nick and Jeff took classes in Portland, dabbled in homemade bitters, syrups, and tinctures, and started mixing up their own creative cocktail recipes.
FROM GRAND RAPIDS TO AUSTIN & BACK AGAIN
Nick graduated from Grand Valley State University with a degree in finance, which took him to Austin, Texas, for an entry-level finance job. He had it all – suit and tie, cubicle, phone ringing all day long – but Nick longed for the days behind the bar, waiting tables and serving customers.
Booth overlooking Bridge Street.
Photo courtesy of Drip Drop Cocktail Room.
He quickly realized it was time to close his metaphorical briefcase and started bartending at a craft cocktail bar in Austin. From there, he worked his way up to bar manager, then restaurant manager. His Midwest roots are deep, and Nick started to think about what it would look like to move back to Michigan and bring a taste of the craft cocktail scene to a place like Grand Rapids.
WELCOME TO BRIDGE STREET
In all his research on Grand Rapids, there was a common theme: Bridge Street and Grand Rapids’ WestSide was the place to be. They started touring spaces in Grand Rapids but there was something special about the first floor of 445 Bridge Street NW – at the time, occupied by Sovengard.
“Bridge Street is the perfect place for us,” says Nick.
The dreams started flowing almost as fast as the cocktails. The lease was signed and construction began. Enter: Swift Printing, their partner in brand marketing and print services.
SWIFT PRINTING: ALL THAT THE NAME IMPLIES
If you’ve ever opened your own business, you know that things happen swiftly and a rolling snowball is hard to stop. The Drip Drop and Swift teams were fast friends, finding similarities in their family-owned businesses that put customers first. It wasn’t long before they started working together and put up an introductory billboard for Drip Drop. Through this initial project, the Swift team also partnered with Drip Drop to design and finalize their iconic umbrella logo (yes, you can use Swift as your own brand design studio!).
From there, Swift Printing produced, business cards, cocktail coasters and waterproof and stain-resistant menus printed on synthetic stock.
“When we can just wipe the menu clean and not stress over water droplets or ring stains, we spend less on reprinting menus,” says Nick.
You’ll also spot a large-format print project from Swift in their entrance, a 1930s vintage black and white picture in London.
LIVING THE DRIP DROP LIFE ON BRIDGE STREET
Since opening on November 4, 2022, the tight team of seven at Drip Drop have welcomed guests week after week – including a steady stream of regulars! It’s safe to say that Grand Rapids was ready for a taste of craft cocktails.
Pictured from left to right: Jake Slaydon, Jes Slaydon, Alex Johnson & Hannah Johnson visiting Drip Drop Cocktail Room on their opening weekend.
At Drip Drop Cocktail Room, plan to imbibe classic cocktails with a “Drip Drop twist.” You’ll find intricate flavors common to a food menu on their cocktail menus (think: poppy seed, salted plums and basil). Order a classic cocktail if you must – but embrace a taste of Drip Drop for round two.
Photo of Drip Drop Cocktail Room
Photo courtesy of Drip Drop Cocktail Room
Head over to 445 Bridge Street NW Suite 2 for a taste. Drip Drop Cocktail Room is open Tuesday through Thursdays from 4 p.m. to midnight, Fridays from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturdays from 12 noon to 2 a.m., and closed Sundays and Mondays. Visit dripdropcocktailroom.com for more information.
