Gourmet

By Vanessa Salvia

Opening any small business is a testament to the power of passion, creativity, and a willingness to take risks. The Monkey’s Paw, on Main Street in downtown Springfield, takes that passion a bit farther. This unique establishment, a tiki bar delivering classic and creative tropical drinks, seeks to help visitors escape from the ordinary.

A Dream Born in Las Vegas

The story of The Monkey’s Paw begins in 2013 at a Punk Rock Bowling event in Las Vegas. A friend took Teren Baker — one of the bar’s three founders, along with Scott Mapa and Jameson Cowman — to Frankie’s Tiki Room. “I had no idea what a tiki bar was,” Baker recalls. “In my mind, I was thinking it was a Margaritaville.” What he discovered instead was a dive bar mixed with Vegas vibes and a punk rock aesthetic. The experience planted a seed and led Baker to start slowly filling his garage with tiki ephemera and restaurant equipment. However, it wasn’t until the pandemic disrupted his steady employment at The Pint Pot Public House that he seriously considered opening his own establishment. “That made me feel like, okay, well, I don’t have that job now, I can do what I want to do,” Baker explains.

With limited funds but unlimited enthusiasm, the team started with pop-up events at The Pedaler next door. The response was overwhelming, with cocktails quickly selling out. This success gave them the confidence to pursue their dream full-time.

The (Brief) History of Tiki

The American fascination with what came to be known as tiki culture began when people in the U.S. encountered the South Pacific through books, movies, and music. Ernest Gantt, better known as Donn Beach, opened the Don the Beachcomber restaurant in Southern California in 1933. He used rum to create cocktails, many of which are still famous today. Victor Bergeron opened his own tiki restaurant, Trader Vic’s, in Northern California in 1937. He is famous for the classic Mai Tai cocktail.

Later, after World War II, American soldiers returning from island locations brought home their love for palm trees and island symbolism — think coconuts, bamboo, flowers. “Tiki” is a Maori word for the image of a god or ancestor, often carved from wood or stone, which are common decor at tiki restaurants and bars. Tiki bars flourished across America from 1950 to about 1970 (and Trader Vic’s became a worldwide chain), then began to decline. There was a strong resurgence in interest in the original drinks when craft cocktails began to flourish, then the “retro” vibe of original tiki culture became cool again. Now, once again, there are tiki bars sprouting up as fast as bamboo. 

A Constantly Evolving Experience

One distinctive feature of The Monkey’s Paw, in keeping with tiki bar tradition, is its dim lighting. “We don’t want people to feel like they’re on Main Street Springfield,” Baker explains. “Our favorite is when people lose track of time and they open the door like, ‘Oh, it’s still light out,'” he says with a laugh. “When people walk in, we always hear, ‘This is really dark,’ and then like three seconds later, ‘Oh, this is really cool.'”

The Monkey’s Paw honors classic tiki cocktails and creates their own original recipes. The bar takes pride in using fresh-squeezed juices, house-made syrups, and quality rums. They even offer a rum flight menu, aiming to educate patrons about the diverse world of rum. “There are so many different interesting flavors of rum based on how it’s created, where it’s created, why it’s created,” says Baker. “There’s room for everybody to find one they like.”

The Monkey’s Paw’s commitment to quality goes alongside their intention to keep their drinks affordable and accessible. “We want the community to feel comfortable coming in here,” Mapa emphasizes. 

The Monkey’s Paw decor is constantly evolving. Nearly everything in the space was either handmade, hunted for, or bargained for by the owners. The team regularly updates their drink menu, introducing seasonal and new creations. They’re even developing their own house-made spiced rum for future drinks and are introducing a drink for sharing presented in a giant clamshell. And just outside, a food truck pod makes it easy to get a meal alongside your drink.

The Monkey’s Paw might not look like other bars you’re used to, but step inside and give it a chance to transport you to another place and time, a place that exists only in fantasy. Just give your eyes a minute to adjust when you walk through the door!