KALAMAZOO, MI — When Stamped Robin first opened its doors in early 2018 it do so with the intent of bringing a “wine-forward aperitif bar.”
And while wine is still central to what Stamped Robin does — the downtown Kalamazoo lounge offer 20 wines on tap and have over 500 bottles in their cellar downstairs — a lot has happened in the past three years at what has become known as more of a classic craft cocktail bar than a wine bar.
Fast-forward to the summer of 2021 and the business, owned by Matthew and Emily Deering-Caruso, lays claim to one of largest Amaro selections in the state, offers appointment-styled backyard cocktail catering via its Lil Bird Cocktail Cart, features an in-house coffee shop and has same-day delivery of its extensive wine collection available for anyone within a 20-mile radius of the bar’s 128 Portage St. address.
While becoming known as more of a cocktail lounge than a wine bar had already been a bit of a natural progression and evolution for Stamped Robin, like so many businesses, the pandemic altered the couple’s business plan and trajectory greatly.
“Heading into the pandemic, obviously we were faced with a lot of uncertainties, specifically with being a cocktail bar and a wine bar, you really don’t have much flexibility in the sense of being able to adapt with delivery and things like that,” Matthew Deering-Caruso said. “So, as we headed into it, we really tried to exhaust all the possible avenues that we could.
“Fortunately, we were planning on having a retail side, but we had no intention of doing any econ, installation or operation. The pandemic just flipped everything.”
Deering-Caruso said they began to see the writing on the wall in mid-February and immediately started building out their webstore. Within within the first week of the shutdown, the Next Door Wine Store was live and bartenders had turned delivery drivers overnight.
“For me it was never a question to shut down but it was always an opportunity to find an innovative way to keep moving forward,” he said. “Fortunately we came out of it better equipped.”
As things slowly return to normal, all three new facets of the business that popped up over the past year remain a part of the active model. The online wine store, the Lil Bird Cocktail Cart and Two Twins, a coffee shop that opened in the lounge’s expanded space next door in January 2021 have each strengthened the business, Deering-Caruso said.
“With the cocktail cart, we thought, why can’t we help develop cocktail culture in people’s backyards? We show up, make a couple drinks, have a good time and leave after about 30 minutes,” he said. “It allowed us to see all our core regulars and keep the spark going during the pandemic in a safe space.”
At the heart of the shutdown, the Lil Bird was limited to serving six people at a time, but now, staff can serve many more on the appointment-based stops, Deering-Caruso said, adding that they do as many as four stops in a night.
The coffee house, meanwhile, was not just a lifeline to Stamped Robin’s business model, but allowed a close friend of the Deering-Carusos, Mackenzie Chrisman, a second chance to serve up his dream to residents of Kalamazoo after his prior venture, Civil House Coffee, closed in the midst of the pandemic.
Chrisman, who runs Two Twins with his wife Walker Chrisman, keeps the shop, at 124 Portage St., open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturdays. The shop is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
The philosophy behind the name Two Twins is keyed around coffee and alcohol both being social stimulants.
“We wanted to create a brand that brought those two worlds together,” Chrisman said.
One can add a shot to their coffee and if the coffee shop is filling up during daytime hours, guests can feel free to spread out and utilize the Stamp Robin space next door, something that was very advantageous, while COVID restrictions kept tables spread apart and guests social-distanced, Chrisman said.
Regardless of the time of day, those coming in for a cocktail or a coffee can take advantage of a large, outdoor patio space and a vibe, often set by Deering-Caruso’s extensive vinyl collection.
Deering-Caruso said he keeps about 1,500-2,000 albums in his Stamped Robin collection, but he is often switching out titles with his much larger private collection he keeps at home.
“It’s vinyl all day, every day here,” he said. “There’s something very residential about that. I love the soul of it. I love the warmth of it. We are constantly doing vibe checks here, every hour or so and depending on the vibe you will hear literally everything from Pink Floyd to 80s pop.
“We have a large hip hop selection. I’ve been buying a lot of old soul lately. It just depends on the vibe.”
The vibe may be set in part by the lounge feel and sound, but it’s the classic cocktails, and the approachability to the craft that Deering-Caruso really hopes to set Stamped Robin apart.
“We want to embrace more of a dive bar culture while still offering some really amazing stuff,” he said. “That’s what Robin represents, just creating space that everybody can connect with and experience great things.
Stamped Robin, which offers light fare in addition to drinks, is open from 4 p.m. - 11 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday and 4 p.m. - midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The lounge is closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Also on MLive:
After a string of pandemic-induced closures, can Kalamazoo’s downtown restaurant scene bounce back?
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