Owners of popular Kansas City restaurant open new cocktail bar inspired by the Southwest

No, it’s not in New Mexico.

It’s not in Arizona or Nevada either, though the sandy pink walls and cacti might lead you to believe otherwise.

Christopher Ciesiel and Cristin Llewellyn’s new cocktail bar is in Kansas City, Kansas, in the Rosedale neighborhood next to plant and coffee shop Garden House Cafe.

The husband and wife duo opened their Southwestern-style bar at 1639 Southwest Blvd. more than a week ago, serving elaborate drinks under the soft glow of neon lights.

If Ciesiel and Llewellyn’s names sound familiar, it might be because they own popular Kansas City bar and restaurant The Campground .

That space — which opened at 1531 Genessee St. in 2018 — is an outdoors-themed business serving entrees and small bites.

For Sagebrush, the couple wanted to emulate mezcal bars they enjoyed while visiting the Southwest. There’s no food on the menu, and its decor is simple yet vibrant. The business is named after the flowering sagebrush desert shrub.

Customers who sit at the J-shaped bar or light-washed tables can likely smell the burning incense nearby. Classic rock thumps and wails from a record player.

On its drink menu: The margarita has Elvelo Blanco, Tapatio Anejo, orange liqueur, lime, sugar and scorpion salt. The Junglebird is made with negroni, Cruzan Black Strap rum, pineapple, sugar and lime.

Ciesiel said he’s still tinkering with his signature Sagebrush drink, but for now, it has Espadin mezcal, guava, orange sorbet, lime and cotija.

In the short time Sagebrush has been open, it’s already attracted a group of regular customers.

“It feels good to be a neighborhood bar in Rosedale. The neighbors have been waiting for something fun to do at night,” Ciesiel said. “It’s a good day-drinking spot, and then at night it becomes more lounge-y.”

Sagebrush is open 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 3 to 11 p.m. Saturdays. It’s closed Sundays and Mondays.