JAKE PUTNAM

The Cup offers something totally different to the Kearney patron.

Alissa Kern opened The Cup in December 2020, and the idea came to her when she was searching for a chill venue without food or TVs.

“We try to bring in a lot of allocated bourbon and whiskey. We also make our own in-house coffee whiskey, something that you’ll never find anywhere else,” Kern said. “It’s secretive. I can’t even tell you what the ingredients are. Most of our customers say it’s the only place in town where they can go and have a date night because they can hear their significant other and be able to just relax and get away from the crazy noise outside. ”

An acoustic version of “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran flows out of the speakers and surrounds patrons as they sit and sip their drinks. Bartender Brendon Esquideln believes The Cup shines with its atmosphere.

“We’re coffee and alcohol morning, noon and night,” Esquideln said. “We focus more on traditional and classics. It’s not your normal Jack and Coke type place, and the atmosphere is unique. It kind of reminds me of the bar from ‘Friends.’ People like to come in and take pictures a lot because the aesthetic is great. It’s a popular destination for senior photos. We’ve got free Wi-Fi if you buy a drink first, and it’s a great place to study.”

The Cup is likely best recognized by the UNK crowd for their daily bottomless mimosas and bloody marys until 5 p.m. They also offer three-dollar wine on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and their shelves are also lined with organic energy drinks and coffee.

Patron Dusty Jura appreciates The Cup as a place to get work done.

“At the end of the day you can go somewhere quiet and have an end of day coffee or start of night drink,” Jura said. “For me, I don’t work in Kearney, but I do have work in Kearney, so when I’m here, it’s nice that I can get some work done and sit and enjoy the atmosphere while I do it.”