Lounging out: Sugarlump adding happy hour, DJs to bring in nightlife

Known as a quiet place to enjoy coffee and work during the day, Sugarlump wants to be your nighttime hangout too.

The 24th Street cafe is reinventing itself — in the evenings, at least. Starting last week, Sugarlump began having nightly beer and wine happy hour nightly from 7 to 8 p.m.

Co-owner and friend of Capp Street Crap Martin Rapalski said he has also lined up the first of what will grow to a week long roster of DJs spinning from the start of happy hour until 10 p.m.

Think fewer lattes and laptops, more lounge.

“We’re hoping it’ll take off as an alternative to the bar scene,” he said.

In addition, Sugarlump is revamping its beer and wine lists – the craft beer selection will all be in cans and priced low – as well as turning the lights down in the evenings and adding votives, Rapalski said. Bad news for the Internet addicted; in the interest of face-to-face conversation, Wi-Fi will be shut off at 7 p.m.

Rapalski said he’s already got music lined up on a couple nights, including someone spinning early reggae and rocksteady on Saturdays, but is still looking for more DJs.

Sugarlump is also on the hunt for a new pop-up to operate in the cafe, he added. The cafe’s former pop-up, Sous Beurre Kitchen, opened a brick-and-mortar space down the street earlier this year.

Currently, Sugarlump is open until 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 p.m. on weekends although its license allows it to serve beer and wine later, Rapalski said. Depending on the success of the new changes, there could be more Sugarlump to love.

“If people want to stay we’re going to extend our hours until midnight,” he said.

[Photo via Sugarlump’s website]