The Charlottesville 29

The Dairy Market continues to announce additions to its market hall opening this fall in the historic Monticello Dairy Building. The latest is The Milkman’s Bar, a cocktail bar from Will Richey and Ten Course Hospitality that pays homage to Americana drugstore soda fountains. The physical centerpiece of the market hall, The Milkman’s Bar will be flanked by the hall’s food artisans, allowing guests to sidle up to the bar with food from market vendors, or just drop by for drinks and people-watching.

Running the bar are two veterans of Ten Course Hospitality projects. River Hawkins has led the bar of The Bebedero since it opened. And, Mike Stewart launched the bar at Kama. At The Milkman’s Bar, the duo plan recreations of lost American classic cocktails, using modern techniques and presentations. Also featured will be adult non-alcoholic drinks, a cocktail program addition growing in demand.

For both Stewart and Hawkins, the foundation of the bar experience is engagement with guests. As the center of a community-gathering place, The Milkman’s Bar will allow them to take that engagement to a new level. “Something that is really important to me is fostering a sense of community and doing my part to be inclusive,” said Stewart. The new bar will also allow the duo to get “really creative,” said Hawkins, without taking themselves too seriously. Riffing on the soda fountain theme, for example, The Big Tickle is Hawkins’ grown-up version of an egg cream, using a base of bourbon and amaro.

The Milkman’s Bar will open upon The Dairy Market’s opening this fall.