**Note: Since this article was first published, the bar concept – which was initially named Equal Parts – has been renamed Agency.
The folks behind Discourse, Milwaukee’s ever-evolving experiential coffee concept, are once again forging new territory.
Today, the popular coffee concept announced that it will be transforming its Downtown cafe at 1020 N. Broadway to accommodate a hybrid bar called Agency, which will operate on weekend evenings while the cafe is closed.
Agency, which will open its doors beginning on Friday, Jan. 5, will lead the way for bars across the Midwest by offering a single menu on which every cocktail is available in both alcoholic and zero-proof form.
“Our mission at Agency is to create a social movement of conscious drinking empowered by choice," notes Robert Colletta, partner and director of photography for Agency, "With all of the sophistication, comfort and charm of a world-class cocktail bar."
A world class bar for everyone
Located adjacent to the Direct Supply Innovation and Technology Center, the coffee shop's entrance is located slightly below sidewalk level, an element that already lends a speakeasy-like charm to the space.
But, after hours (Friday through Sunday beginning at 6 p.m.), guests will also find the interior of the cozy coffee shop transformed. As darkness settles across Downtown, the shop will become a dimly lit alchemical workshop where guests can experience the benefits of an evening out – complete with creative, unexpected cocktails – without the pressure to consume alcohol.
“As the marketplace demands more immersive retail experiences, Agency understands the need to exceed those expectations,” says Ed Treis, capital partner.
“Patrons to Agency will be greeted with an uncanny attention to detail, unlocking a unique sensory experience. dynamic partnership between the growing, alcohol-free consumer and the discerning cocktail aficionado, has been achieved by the creative alchemists of Agency. An unmatched, tasting experience will soon be discovered here in Milwaukee, regardless of the desire to include alcohol.”
Behind that experience is a team that brings over 20 years of collective hospitality experience to the table. In addition to Colletta and Treis, the Agency Team includes Operating Partner Kat Doughty, formerly of Morel and Shanghai; Service Director Ryan Castelaz, hospitality veteran with a passion for creating experiences, founder of Discourse, author of “The New Art of Coffee”; and Bartender/Forager Alanna Szezech, formerly of The Chef’s Table, who brings a talent for crafting unique drinks using wild ingredients.
On the menu
The opening menu at Agency will feature over a dozen thoughtfully crafted cocktails including classic quaffs like the Aviation, Margarita, Negroni and Espresso Martini, along with experimental options including the Interstellar, a crystalline milk punch of rum, Sauternes, pandan-infused red tea, raspberry and acidified pineapple.”
The drink is “inspired by a 2009 study that states that a large concentration of ethyl formate at the center of the Milky Way makes space smell of rum and taste like raspberries.”
The inaugural experimental menu, entitled “A Journey Through Time” will also feature drinks like Jurassic, a mezcal Old Fashioned scented with geosmin (the chemical responsible for the smell of sweet earth after it rains), and The New Frontier, a comforting combination of brown butter washed whiskey and house spiced apple cider served hot with a flaming cinnamon stick.
“Every component has been meticulously considered,” notes Doughty. “We’re simply a group of drink makers obsessed with what liquid has been and what it can be.”
Both traditional and zero-proof cocktails will be treated equally, served in the same glassware and garnished with the same ingredients. Agency will also offer dedicated table service to ensure that every drinker has a safe and memorable drinking experience.
In addition to cocktails, Equal Parts will feature a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers and wines, as well as a selection of house-made sodas, with an affordable selection for every palate. An evolving partnership with The Free Spirits Company, a top-notch non-alcoholic spirits producer founded by Milan Martin, has assisted in advancing Agency's non-alcoholic drinking experience.
“I’m a huge believer in accessible luxury,” notes Ryan Castelaz, service director for Agency. ”There’s no room for pretension in our space, but we’re always going to ask you if you’re done enjoying before we swipe your glass and your water will never be empty.
"Our entire focus is on the creation of truly magical moments, equal parts whimsy and wonder. Come as you are, and we’ll do the rest.”
Beginning Jan. 5, Agency will be open Friday through Sunday beginning at 6 p.m.
To preserve the quality of the experience for all guests, Equal Parts will not offer standing service or take reservations. Arriving before 6 p.m. is advised.
For news and updates follow @equal.parts_ on Instagram.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
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