The roaring 20s came to Joplin last February when Donnie and Karuleen Bennett opened Caldone’s After Dark Speakeasy in a loft above their downtown restaurant Caldone’s. 

They aren’t kidding when they say speakeasy either.  It’s modeled after a real speakeasy (Joplin actually had a few in the 1920s) and has a seriously eclectic vibe. 

It has the elements of a vintage bar, an antique store, someone’s hipster apartment, and it’s all around a really unique place.

The Bennetts initially didn’t advertise at all, want to gain patronage through word-of-mouth alone (in keeping with the theme).  It started out with a pretty regular in-crowd, but since February the number of frequenters has exploded.

“We’ve been pushing more drink specials and entertainment,” said Rossi Marinelli, a cocktail waitress. “We’ve had a casino night, a poker night and a scotch tasting.”

She also said that they have live music almost every night they are open, which is Wednesday through Saturday.  Even when there isn’t a performance, there’s always live music.  People are encouraged to bring in their instruments and it’s not uncommon to see a guy just relaxing in an armchair picking at his guitar as if he’s at home.

It’s located near Second and Main and the best way to find it is to look for a red phone booth.  That’s right.  The front door is disguised as a phone booth.  Once you step inside, pick up the phone and dial “999” and ask for “Donnie’s Taxi Service.”

You will then go up a flight of stairs to what used to be an apartment (and rumored brothel). 

Most bars have an open floor plan, but Speakeasy is divided into separate rooms making it feel like you’re at someone’s house party. 

One room has cushy mismatched furniture and a Persian rug; another one, which would have been the living room, houses the bar; there’s a room that feels more like restaurant dining; another loops silent films all night; there is the Poker Room complete with a traditional poker table. 

Completing the theme, the servers dress like flappers and customers are encouraged to break out their 20s-inspired duds as well.

They offer two for one beer, wine, and well drinks on Wednesdays and Thursdays until 7:30 p.m. and on Friday and Saturday until 9 p.m.  Speakeasy is currently boasting a brand new house drink a caramel moonshine.

“It’s amazing,” said Martinelli. “It’s really good and we want to be known for it.”