Sissy Bar, from the owners of downtown’s Dalila’s, opens this month at 1067 East Montague Ave. A neon sign beckons guests to enter the bar and restaurant, formerly occupied by Three Sirens, and before that, YoBo Cantina.
Named in part after owner Michael Whiteley’s identical twin girls, Sissy Bar will specialize in mezcal and tequila drinks. While Whiteley and his wife refer to their babies as “sissies,” the name has an additional meaning: A sissy, or “sister” bar is an addition to the rear of a motorcycle that allows the passenger to recline against it.
The edgy motorcycle-inspired logo, Southern California-influenced vibe and the fresh and internationally inspired fare create the perfectly nuanced and niche atmosphere that Whiteley has perfected in his other Charleston spot, Dalila’s.
“At Dalila’s we try to stay away from a lot of mainstream brands,” Whiteley said. In that vein, Sissy Bar will offer off-the-beaten path brands, too, especially when it comes to mezcal and tequila.
The drinks will match the vibe of the bar and restaurant’s interior — one that reflects Whiteley’s love for Southern California. Whiteley and his team worked hard to re-do the restaurant’s existing interior, brightening up the space and adding local art, including a mirror that’s been “tattooed” (etched) by a local tattooist.
Whiteley said that he fell in love with the restaurant space after dining at Three Sirens and when the place became available, he jumped at the chance to take over. “I like the size; I Iike the layout; I like the open kitchen.”
The restaurant will be open every night and for Sunday brunch. “We’re going to make it a fun kind of day party,” Whiteley said, adding that they’ll pair a DJ with dishes like a loco molo bowl, made with bone marrow gravy.
“We want to be the neighborhood spot,” Whiteley said. “Downtown [at Dalila’s] we see the same faces like three, four times a week, which is nice.”
A neighborhood need
It’s no secret that Park Circle is one of the area’s fastest growing areas, both in terms of residents and businesses. As City Paper reported last year in one of our neighborhood explorations: “North Charleston, once eclipsed by the city of Charleston, has come into its own in recent decades. And at the center of it all sits the Park Circle neighborhood, a vibrant, walkable community bounded by Interstate 526 on the north side, Waterfront Park and the Cooper River on the east, Noisette Creek on the south and Mixson Avenue on the west.”
Sissy Bar isn’t the only change coming to East Montague Ave. A new Colombian restaurant, Ciudad Bonita is slated to open this spring, too. And Southern Roots North Charleston is moving from its smaller location at 1037 East Montague to 1033 East Montague, former spot of Ship’s Wheel Hard Cider.
These new and expanding restaurants join a slate of longtime East Montague stalwarts, including EVO Pizza, Madra Rua and DIG in the Park.
With its SoCal influences, Sissy Bar brings something a little new to the strip of popular spots.
Whiteley said he misses eating his favorite meal — ”a cold beer, a shot of tequila and tacos” — and he hopes to offer something that comforting to Park Circle.
Guests can pair their cold beer with a variety of small plates like ceviche and queso fundido; medium plates like a caesar salad topped with your choice of protein or a birria quesadilla; and big plates like a smash burger, “Cali” burrito and grilled whole fish.
Whiteley wants Sissy Bar to be a spot for everyone, whether they live or work in Park Circle, or are just visiting the area. “They can come in if they’re celebrating with family from out of town, or they can come in for a shot and a beer after work,” Whiteley said. “And they can be just as casual or as fancy as they want to be.”
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