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
She sends food to the dinner table, instead of the trash can; how one social venture is saving family mealtime with would-be waste
A Kansas City nonprofit’s innovative approach is reducing food waste, fighting food insecurity, and restoring family mealtime. Pete’s Garden, founded in 2019 by Tamara Weber, partners with caterers, restaurants, and food service organizations to save unserved, prepared food that would otherwise be thrown out. Weber and a team of volunteers portion and package that food…
College entrepreneurs match their student-athlete peers with NIL brand-building business
Startland News’ Startup Road Trip series explores innovative and uncommon ideas finding success in rural America and Midwestern startup hubs outside the Kansas City metro. This series is possible thanks to Entrepreneurial Growth Ventures (EGV), a business unit of NetWork Kansas supporting innovative, high-growth entrepreneurs in the State of Kansas. WICHITA — Player Card’s young…
KC-based public service news outlet selects longtime nonprofit leader as its new CEO
A nonprofit news source focused on public service journalism for Kansas City and Wichita has selected a new CEO with more than 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience. Stephanie Campbell, a former executive team member at Leanlab Education, will lead the online Kansas City-based publication, The Beacon, tapping into her expertise in operations, marketing and…
No sugarcoating it: Motherhood is tough; this breastfeeding, diaper tracking app uses tech to guide moms past stigmas
Women’s health remains a taboo topic in American culture, said Vanessa Jupe, sharing why the mother-turned-tech founder is on a mission to provoke conversations and provide resources for women — starting with nursing infants. “Breastfeeding was not at all what I expected it to be. It was a very challenging, confusing time that showed me…


