Scotch & Soda makes way for Sweet Boy's

Last edited 2:40 p.m., June 4, 2020

Scotch & Soda is slated to make way for a new concept, dubbed Sweet Boy's Neighborhood Bar, in downtown Springfield.

The concept, from Scotch & Soda owner Josh Widner, is scheduled to open in mid-June. Widner is partnering on Sweet Boy's with Josh Sullivan, owner of Fried Design Co., and Rogan Howitt, Widner’s brother and beverage director of his Good Spirits company, according to a news release.

“We had 2020 marked with hope for great things for Scotch & Soda, including a rebrand, relocation and new exciting partnerships,” Widner said in the release. “The past few months have made us reprioritize our company values and goals. We’re more than excited to revamp the space we’ve called home for the past eight years.”

Scotch & Soda officials yesterday announced the change in a Facebook post, saying the establishment “decided to press pause on our revamp until the timing seems right again.” Scotch & Soda has been closed since March 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sweet Boy's Neighborhood Bar, according to the release, will have a rotating cocktail menu, draft beers and punches, and a signature frozen Irish coffee beverage.

Scotch & Soda opened in October 2012 with a collection of prohibition-era styled libations, according to SBJ archives. The concept was expanded to Bentonville, Arkansas, in 2015.