Kubrick's in St. Charles offers a film-inspired atmosphere and events

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Photo by Collin Preciado

Anyone who's ever been to a bar has probably had to defend a favorite movie. At Kubrick's in St. Charles (218 N. Main), you should probably expect it.

The Atmosphere

Located just behind Main Street, the bar is movie-themed, with a heavy emphasis on namesake filmmaker Stanley Kubrick. Memorabilia and imagery from the director’s films are scattered throughout the space, including on wallpaper behind the bar, with the same orange-and-brown design as the Overlook Hotel’s carpet from The Shining.

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Photo by Collin Preciado

The space centers around the bar, where two flatscreens play the film of the day (Sunset Boulevard on a recent visit, for instance) from owner Mark Lovelace’s collection. The films are played without sound and with subtitles on. Featured on a screen in the corner is another movie, which Lovelace chooses to showcase the cinematography. If there’s a game on, he might play it as well.

“It’s a very immersive experience,” says Lovelace. “People are able to watch, talk to each other, and listen to music but also take in the film or game.”

Photo by Collin Preciado

The second floor is a lounge area inspired by the Korova Milkbar in A Clockwork Orange. It’s a smaller, more intimate space, which includes a TV, a small bar, a couch, and a free-to-play arcade machine. There’s also access to the balcony, which overlooks the Missouri River. 

“I want this place to feel like something other than just a watering hole," says Lovelace. "I want it to feel like an event.”

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Photo by Collin Preciado

The Events

In one corner of the main floor are three smaller screens hooked up to video game consoles, such as the Nintendo Switch. On February 2, Kubrick’s will be hosting a Smash Bros. Ultimate Tournament, with cash prizes and a championship belt being awarded to first place.

Another upcoming event: the bar's annual prom, on March 4. Lovelace plans to build on last year’s success with a Harry Potter Yule Ball theme. The upstairs Korova Milkbar area will be transformed into Hagrid’s Hut for the event. Butter beer will be on hand. Costumes are encouraged. Admission is free, and you must be 21 years of age to enter. More details will be posted on Kubrick’s Facebook page.

The Drinks

Photo by Mark Lovelace

Clockwork Orange, Space Odyssey, Old Fashioned

There's no kitchen at Kubrick’s, but customers are able to bring in or order food. The bar offers a large array of spirits and a standard selection of bottles and cans, as well as a small rotation of beers on draft. It also features a cocktail menu inspired by Kubrick's films and characters, including the Space Odyssey (with pearl vanilla bean vodka, amoretto, butterscotch, pineapple juice, crepe de coconut, mint) and The Lolita (with peanut butter whiskey, spiced rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, creme de coconut).

The bar also offers a Cocktail of the Month, which typically strays from the namesake theme by venturing into the broader world of film. This month’s cocktail: Zodiac (with vodka, gin, blue curaçao, lemon limeade), inspired by the 2007 David Fincher true crime film.

The Background

Before becoming Kubrick’s, the bar was known as The Lounge, where Lovelace was a bartender before purchasing the establishment from the previous owner. Lovelace continued operating the bar as The Lounge before deciding to infuse his own identity into the business by reinventing the space and naming it after his filmmaking hero.

“He’s my favorite director of all time," Lovelace says of Kubrick. "I felt like this is a theme I can roll with that really has me attached to it.”

And though Kubrick passed away more than 20 years ago, the bar still plans to celebrate the iconic filmmaker’s birthday on July 31—the same day that Kubrick’s officially opened for business.