Look inside: North KC brewery adds game bar to the block (plus one of KC’s favorite sandwiches)

A game bar with a vintage national park theme is coming to North Kansas City next month — with Bay Boy sandwiches packed for the short trip.

The Commons is an extension of Cinder Block Brewery at 110 E. 18th Ave.

The Commons at Cinder Block Brewery at 110 E. 18th Ave.; photo by Joyce Smith

The craft brewery opened in September 2013. When a dance club recently closed next door, Cinder Block first planned to expand the brewery. But ultimately the decided it was unnecessary, said Chandler Hottenstein, operations manager. 

So they regrouped, planning a concept that would be more active, where customers would be able to “mosey the block, drink in hand.”

The Commons will feature several entrances, including one to the brewery. There are about a dozen seats at the bar with a couple of Adirondack swing chairs to the side. It will have two special Cinder Block beers on tap, along with eight other local craft beers, craft cocktails, and slushies. 

Click here to follow the Commons on Instagram.

The former dance floor is now topped with artificial grass for a backyard-like setting where customers can play cornhole, and other lawn games.

Scattered throughout the facility are Skee-Ball, darts, shuffleboard, Foosball, and pool tables. Video and arcade games are tucked in a corner: Die Hard, Sega’s After Burner, Ms. Pac-Man, Golden Tee, and Big Buck Hunter.

Beloved local brand, Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches, will have its own kitchen.

Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches

Julian Garcia and Jake Wilson first opened Bay Boy as a pop-up in a West Plaza pizza shop in 2015, serving delectable sandwiches on Dutch Crunch bread — a San Francisco favorite. 

The business partners, friends since first grade, went out on their own at 4706 Holly St. in 2018.

At The Commons, they will offer 10 of their most popular sandwiches including The El Jefe (a Cubano with pork, ham, swiss and pickles), and the Wagyu Nebraskan, along with two vegetarian options.

“We’ve done a few pop-ups in Cinder Block for a few years so we’ve always had a good working relationship with them, and we’ve always been well received,” said Garcia, who grew up in San Francisco. “When they pitched the concept I was excited. I love backyard games, I love the vibes.”

The Commons is scheduling a late May opening.

Startland News contributor Joyce Smith covered local restaurants and retail for nearly 40 years with The Kansas City Star. Click here to follow her on Bluesky, here for X (formerly Twitter), here for Facebook, here for Instagram, and by following #joyceinkc on Threads.