James Beard Award-nominated bar operator Jay Sanders dishes on the unique approach for his next bar in this Pitch Questionnaire

Jay Sanders and Shelley Shackelford behind the bar at Wild Child for Almost Monday // Photo by Sarah Sipple

Jay Sanders is an undeniable force in Kansas City’s bar scene. Next on his vision board: affordability.

As owner/operator of Shawnee’s Wild Child Libations and Drastic Measures, he has helped usher in a new era of notoriety for the suburb’s historic downtown. 

Since opening in 2020, Sanders’ first major undertaking, Drastic Measures, has not lost momentum. In fact, it was voted reader’s choice for 2024 Best Bar, Best Upscale Bar, and Best Cocktails. Both Drastic Measures and Wild Child were finalists in a few other Drink categories. 

Sanders’ next venture is in the early stage of development. Almost Monday, a bar designed to combat the cocktail price creep without sacrificing quality sips, has no location or staff yet. Sanders and his business partners are using a unique approach to build up capital before opening. 

To raise money for Almost Monday, Sanders and the rest of the ownership team are skipping the common crowdfunding and business loan strategies and getting to work. Funds raised from gratuity at Almost Monday pop-ups will go toward the future bar. 

Each Sunday from 1 – 8 p.m., Sanders will be behind the bar at Wild Child, offering a teaser of the Almost Monday menu. All Almost Monday cocktails are $10 (I highly recommend “Our Sidecar”), and tips will go toward the next bar location. Only the ownership team will be working, and they will not keep tips for themselves.

The first Sunday shift raised $440 for Almost Monday. 

Before a visit to the first Almost Monday pop-up at Wild Child, The Pitch asked Sanders all the burning questions about this strategy and what comes next.

The Pitch: You have shared a variety of bar ideas on your Instagram account, what made this particular one stick?

Jay Sanders: I always have ideas floating around that I tease on social media, but it usually takes an action from one of our guests to get the ball rolling and to signal to me that this is the right move.

We had a friend of ours message the Instagram page and say “I’m sorry I haven’t been in the bar for a while, I just can’t afford it right now.” That hit me pretty hard. The world of craft drinks has priced out the people who could use that experience the most. I am aware of my part in that. We built these bars with the business model of $12 cocktails back in 2019, what can we do or build differently to bring that price down now that most bars are pushing $16 for craft drinks in 2024. The gold rush is over for upscale I think.

What led you to choose this fundraising model over others?

Before I answer that I need to acknowledge my privilege on some things that make it possible to do this.

I have a great staff, great partners, and two cool bars that allow me the position of working on the businesses rather than working at the businesses. I don’t have to shake drinks or work floor shifts anymore to meet my cost of living. So if I’m working a shift for someone I very rightly exclude myself from the tip pool and whoever is working with me gets to keep it all. Again, that is a privilege that I have. I worked hard to get here, but it’s still something that I don’t take for granted. 

The reality is that the scope of my responsibilities has changed and I miss doing the drink shaking and talking with our guests regularly, which was my favorite part.

The fundraising model seemed pretty simple and honest. If you want to leave  gratuity, I will put that money towards Almost Monday; if you don’t, that’s fine too; at least you came out and hung with us. 

So if Wild Child gets some extra business, our guests get affordable cocktails, and I get to go back to my favorite part, making good drinks for good people, then that’s a win for everyone.  I don’t anticipate this to be a super lucrative and fast journey, but I expect it to be a fun one.

Who are the other future owners that will work this new Sunday shift with you?

My current investors and business partners in Drastic Measures and Wild Child really enjoy working service and being a part of the bars. They are hardworking people that I am lucky to know.

I am the operating partner, but Shelley & Derick Shackelford have the same mindset as me when it comes to creating spaces for people to enjoy. When I pitched them this idea it was basically “I want to do this thing at Wild Child, you’re also owners of Wild Child, so if you’re ok with using this space to launch a possible third concept, then you should have equity in that concept as well.” It took no time at all for them to volunteer to work at it too.

I also have a friend from my basement bartending days in the Crossroads who has a similar vision about this concept. I’d like to bring him on board, but I don’t know if we can make any public announcements. This is all still pretty new, and we have a long way to go.

Can you give a few examples of “bullshit” that customers won’t encounter here, as mentioned in the bar’s Instagram bio?

I think I need to clarify that when I say bullshit, I mostly mean the bullshit that currently comes with what’s expected from a cocktail bar. 

I want to strip away everything that I possibly can to run lean and mean while offering $10 drinks and maximizing what we can do in the space. I don’t want to give it all away, but I want to produce all our ice in-house without leasing machines, do our own laundry, I want to get back to juicing citrus to order, I want to continue to make simple but good drinks, I want a completely open bar layout and concept where people are right in the thick of it with us. I want to show how far you can get with less and I want to be completely transparent about the entire process so other people can do the same if they want.

But without calling anyone out, I noticed nationwide that there are some cocktail bars that are charging way too much for what they are offering. I’m paying $15/hr + tips to all my people and charging $14/ drink while donating over 50k a year to charity. So if you’re charging $16 and you had to Google what the minimum wage was for tipped employees then I don’t think you’re here to create spaces for people, you’re here for a money grab on the backs of your staff and your supporters. That really pisses me off.

In what area of the metro do you hope to open Almost Monday?

I am open to anywhere! When we opened Drastic Measures in Shawnee in 2020, it felt like going way out west, but it is now an established and growing neighborhood. I live in Midtown, so I would love something a little closer to me for my commute and the ability to bring my aging dog to work with me sometimes.

It’s gotta be affordable and small. I want to be able to see the whole thing from behind the bar.

Jay Sanders behind the bar at Wild Child for Almost Monday // Photo by Sarah Sipple

What is one thing you’ll do differently with the development/opening process of Almost Monday compared to Drastic Measures and Wild Child?

The biggest thing I want to do differently is really focus on the buildout and design to make it as efficient and effective as possible. Some things at Drastic Measures and Wild Child are necessary for their operation but expensive. I’m constantly trying to find ways to fix that. 

You excel at curating a distinct vibe through aesthetics, menu design, and internet presence. What vision do you have for Almost Monday?

Drastic Measures and Wild Child both have unique voices and vibes. I haven’t found what that is for Almost Monday yet. I always start with the playlist for the music, and eventually, that leads me to it. 

I run all the social media and do all the photography for the bars to minimize costs and to dial in those voices and it always takes a little while to nail the look and attitude.

I think Almost Monday will definitely be less prolific on its internet presence. In terms of the aesthetics, menu design, and vibe, the sentence I keep going back to is “function and purpose without pretense.”

Shout out to my friends from The Rieger and Manifesto for the name. I definitely got it from what they all used to say to each other at the end of a long weekend. When you’re at your most tired with a cold beer in your hands and aching feet at 4 a.m. wiping down the place, “Why so sad, it’s Almost Monday!” Which basically means you have one day to rest and then it’s back at it again.

I don’t see any n/a drinks on the Almost Monday menu. Will there be a separate n/a menu, or can drinks be customized?

We will offer the full Wild Child N/A menu on the Almost Monday popups. We don’t have any created specifically for this concept yet, but I am working on it.

You already operate two award-winning and nominated bars and are now adding a third concept. What self-care strategies are working for you in this season of life?

While I struggle mightily and publicly with my mental health issues, I think this next season of life is doing my best to support and protect those around me who are faced with a bleak landscape for political, social, and human rights issues. I need to be more available to those around me.

Almost Monday pop-ups are held on Sundays from 1 – 8 p.m. at Wild Child Libations at 11022 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS 66203.