GRAND CENTRAL MARKET PREPARES TO WELCOME THE COURAGE & THE
CRAFT, A TROVE OF CRAFT COCKTAIL ESSENTIALS, BEER AND WINE
Bestia Bar Program Director Nicholas Krok Creates Boutique Shop For
Artisanal Spirits, Beer, Wine and Cocktail Accoutrements
For Enthusiasts and Professionals Alike
LOS ANGELES (July 1, 2015)— Grand Central Market will soon serve as a haven for cocktail
aficionados with the opening of The Courage & The Craft, a boutique spirits, wine and beer
shop focused on all aspects of the art of creating cocktails, created by Bestia Bar Program
Director Nicholas Krok and bar manager Ryan Duffy.
Slated to open this fall, the 400-square-foot space next to Eggslut will be an oasis of hand-made
spirits, syrups, bitters, bar utensils, recipes and insightful literature to instill a deep appreciation
and understanding of fine drinking.
“Through these offerings, we will work to create a community where professionals and amateur
enthusiasts alike can come to discover and share in their love for the art of classic and modern
cocktails, the spirits and methods employed in creating them and history behind them,” said
Krok.
Krok has led a successful career for over ten years in the bar and restaurant industry, running
numerous successful restaurants and bar programs in New York and Los Angeles including
Calle Ocho in Manhattan and The Gorbals and Ford’s Filling Station in Los Angeles. Now at the
highly acclaimed Bestia, Krok works closely with Chef Ori Menashe imagining and creating the
perfect concoctions to be enjoyed with the restaurant’s cuisine.
With six years of bartending and bar management experience, Ryan Duffy has gained a wealth
of knowledge and experience under Chef Josef Centeno at Bar Amá, 213 Enterprises’ founder
Cedd Moses and Acme Bar Group in Los Angeles.
Both Krok and Duffy have lived in and been a part of the Downtown Los Angeles community
and bar and restaurant scene for five years, and The Courage & The Craft was born out of the
neighborhood’s culture. The space will be built by District Mills, a fabrication and design
company based out of DTLA, and designed by longtime downtown resident Ashley Hohmann,
who also helped design Ilan Hall’s The Gorbals.
“The Courage & The Craft is something that we hope to be shared by folks from all over LA and
beyond, of course, but it is very much for the living and working community of DTLA to enjoy on
a daily basis. You could say it's 100% DTLA born and raised” said Krok.
Krok and Duffy will also curate a selection of craft beers (largely from Germany, Austria and
Southern California) and artisanal wines, carefully chosen to accompany the many flavors inside
Grand Central Market.
“Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be happy to introduce you to the wonders of an
amphora aged Sangiovese that will complement your steak from Belcampo perfectly, or a Pinot
Grigio with just enough skin fermented funkiness to go with your aromatic Camembert from
DTLA Cheese,” said Krok.
In addition to The Courage & The Craft, Grand Central Market eagerly awaits the arrival of
Golden Road Brewery, an all-vegan ramen and pho shop by Ilan Hall of The Gorbals and a
pasta shop by Bruce Kalman of Union. The ongoing revitalization of the iconic arcade has
garnered numerous media accolades including being named one of the “Hot 10” restaurants
nationwide by Bon Appetit magazine in September 2014.
Celebrating the cuisines and cultures of Los Angeles since 1917, the historic Grand
Central Market food arcade (between Broadway and Hill Street at the base of
Angels Flight) is an unparalleled eating and shopping experience showcasing the
best local chefs, culinary purveyors and entrepreneurs. For more information visit
www.grandcentralmarket.com and connect with us on Twitter @GrandCentralMkt or
https://www.facebook.com/GrandCentralMarket .
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CONTACT:
Roberta Silverman, Andrea Alonso
breakwhitelight (for Grand Central Market)
(818) 207-1363, (402) 709-4537
[email protected], [email protected]