Catch the PokéBar: Pokémon-themed pop-up bar and burgers experience coming to KC
July 25, 2019 | Austin Barnes
A newly crafted, immersive pop-up experience is set to present fans of Pokémon with the ultimate challenge — making its way to Kansas City in 2020.
Launched in September in Los Angeles, PokéBar is set to evolve in the metro Feb. 8-9, offering fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove whether they really can “catch em’ all,” said Terry Adams, a PokéBar publicist.
“Pokémon is a nostalgic and beloved brand and we saw an opportunity to expand the experience,” Adams explained. “Guests will be able to play multiple live games to evolve their Pokémon characters, engage in trivia, and take in the experience.”
PokéBar is expected to be divided into seven regions across Kansas City with each session including two-hours of hunting, batting and catching time, the company explained in a release. Fans who complete all regions will be crowned the ultimate Pokémon master.
“There will be prizes for the winners of the best costume, Pokémon trivia, and the division winners of each session. DJ’s will be spinning tracks and custom themed cocktails and food will be served,” Adams noted.
“Menus vary city to city but all venues will have a burger offering and veggie option and themed cocktails, or themed beer depending on the venue,” Adams said of what customers can expect, noting its their loyalty and craving for new ways to engage with their favorite brands that’s made such an experience possible.
With limited participant spots available, the PokéBar experience has been quick to sell out in locations where tickets are already on sale, prompting the company to offer pre-sale tickets on a first come, first served basis, Adams said.
Click here to register for access to pre-sale tickets to PokéBar Kansas City.
PokéBar will be the second national, pop-up experience to make a stop in the metro. Miracle Christmas Bar — a collaboration with Cocktail Kingdom — brought holiday cheer to the Rockhill Grille Lounge in 2018, presented by J. Rieger and Co.
The pop-up experience, which featured such custom Kansas City cocktails as the “Hallmark Heater,” is expected to return to the Crossroads Arts District in November, though no official announcement has been made.
PokéBar has yet to announce its exact venue locations, but intends to finalize the plans soon, Adams said, citing tour date expansions as more cities have shown interest in hosting the pop-up — which was originally scheduled to stop in Kansas City in December.
Featured Business

2019 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Ag venture group TechAccel invests $250K in research partnership
A new partnership will advance agricultural innovation in the state of Missouri. TechAccel, a Kansas City-based technology and venture development firm, recently announced it will work with the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, a St. Louis-based nonprofit research institute. TechAccel will provide $250,000 in grants to the Danforth Center to help it demonstrate proof of…
Kansas City Chief Dontari Poe challenges students, startups with new contest
Veteran Kansas City Chief Dontari Poe is hosting a competition that bridges young Kansas Citians and entrepreneurship. Set for Dec. 13 at Think Big Coworking, Poe Man’s Challenge will pair nine local startups with 30 Kansas City high school students and pitch the companies to a panel of celebrity judges, including Poe and his teammates.…
Router Ventures plans to make more KC startup investments
Led by regional startup champion Jeff Slobotski, Omaha-based Router Ventures is hoping to grow its early-stage investment portfolio with more Kansas City firms. With seven startups in its roster, the $1.1 million seed fund plans to accelerate its dealmaking in 2017 and Slobotski said Kansas City is key to the strategy. “I strongly believe that…
Gary Fish invests $4M in Virginia security firm Haystax Technology
Kansas City-based technology accelerator Fishtech Labs announced its second investment Thursday. Just four months after the firm invested $3 million in Overland Park’s Foresite, Fishtech injected $4 million in security analytics provider Haystax Technology. “Once I became aware of their technology platform, there was never a second thought as to whether or not I should…


