Sidecar Bar
900 square feet | tucson, arizona
architect: repp + mclain design & construction
general contractor: repp + mclain design & construction
materials: steel butcher block, leather, stained and exposed concrete
photographs: Liam Frederick
Located within the historic Broadway Village shopping center, Sidecar unites two previously separate retail footprints to create a singular, expansive craft cocktail bar. The renovation focused on establishing a fluid, open floor plan that encourages movement and social interaction. By stripping back layers of previous interventions, the design reveals the building’s rugged “bones,” most notably through sandblasted wooden joists that showcase the original mid-century structure. This subtractive approach creates a sense of height and history, providing a raw, honest backdrop for the refined cocktail program.
The bar itself serves as the centerpiece of the room, featuring a material palette that bridges the gap between industrial innovation and traditional tavern aesthetics. Tube steel with a deep resin finish wraps the bar top—a modern, durable homage to traditional butcher block craftsmanship.
Below the concrete bar front features recessed panels cast directly into the material, a subtle architectural echo of the ornate wooden paneling found in early 20th-century bars. These carefully curated textures—steel, concrete, and leather—work together to create an atmosphere that is both sophisticated and grounded.
