Step inside the front door at 9 Broadway in Massapequa and you’ll find The Coffee Grind, an eclectic café known for its diverse menu of drinks.
Soon, you’ll also find a secret.
Hidden behind a wood-paneled wall at the back of the shop is a new speakeasy-style bar, accessible only through the concealed door that opens with a special card or a passcode.
The lounge, called Behind the Grind, is the latest project from café owner Lewis Sigelakis.
Designed to evoke the feel of a Manhattan cocktail bar, the space has been about a year and a half in the making.
“I wanted a speakeasy feel with city vibes, but I also wanted it to feel modern, fun, exciting,” Sigelakis told Greater Long Island.
The cocktails will reflect the coffee café’s existing concept. At The Coffee Grind, the menu features a theme called “coffees from around the world,” and Sigelakis hopes to carry that same idea into the speakeasy.
“I want to bring that feel to the back room with we are calling cocktails from around the world,” he said. “Flavored inspired cocktails. For example, we will use a Japanese gin and bring it in with a hibiscus flavored drink and tie those flavors together to bring something unique.”
Even the entrance was carefully thought out. Rather than a traditional speakeasy gimmick like a hidden phone booth or bookcase, Sigelakis says he wanted a more subtle design.
“It’s special. It’s different,” he said. “The hidden wall behind the paneling is more modern, not your traditional opening.”
For now, Behind the Grind will primarily be used for private events, but Sigelakis plans to introduce occasional ticketed special events open to the public once or twice a month.
“Maybe we will do a wine and cheese event, or a bourbon night. Something fun, maybe a comedy night, and we will sell a certain amount of tickets to the public,” he said. “Eventually, we would love to get to having the speakeasy opened every Friday and Saturday night.”
Sigelakis opened The Coffee Grind about three years ago, fulfilling a longtime goal of running his own café. Before entering the coffee business, he worked for a medical device company while also flipping houses and taking on construction projects on the side.
The idea for a speakeasy was always part of the long-term vision.
“I always knew eventually I wanted to add something like this after the coffee shop,” Sigelakis said. “It just took some time for it all to come together.”
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