Harpo’s Bar & Grill expands with The Landing and The Hideaway.
Especially this time of year, the ideas of family and warmth embrace the community. Home is calling. The welcome greetings at the door make us all smile. Comfort is fostered in the friendly faces around the room. Home is inviting — and full of company — ready to make more forever memories.
In this case, home for generations of Columbians is Harpo’s Bar & Grill at 29 S. Tenth St.
“When you come to Columbia, you think of Harpo’s. It is your home away from home,” says general manager Jack Stephens.
Earlier this fall, the iconic Columbia bar grew to support another generation of guests when The Landing and The Hideaway were added to the space. The additions elevate the traditional Harpo’s experience, providing a vibrant new atmosphere to create even more memories.
The Family Tree
Built on an 1800s structure, Harpo’s Bar & Grill opened in 1971. Dennis Harper had just graduated from the University of Missouri when he decided to take on the venture. Ever since, it has continued success, the comforting environment, and years of tradition. In 2010, Anna and Chuck Naylor became the new owners. Like Harper, the Naylors were Mizzou grads, making for a seamless handoff with the same Missouri spirit, values, and traditions that are Harpo’s hallmarks.
The lighting, wood furnishings, and classic drinks all focus on those traditions.
“We want people to always come into Harpo’s and feel like this is home,” Chuck Naylor says.
Walking into the bar is akin to walking through history. The classically pub-designed front bar, typically with big screens showing football games, is always the busiest spot in the place. One space over, the Atrium is full of space to celebrate with seating arranged to encourage engaging conversations, and loads of natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. Upstairs, fresh air embraces the revelers among the greenery in the Skyy Bar. In the belly of the bar, 10 Below is the downstairs ice bar and nightclub with bottle service, lively music, and dancing under a must-see-to-believe, massive disco ball.
New Additions
Six steps up from the Atrium, remodeled from the Harvest Moon restaurant, the Landing offers a new atmosphere at Harpo’s. With a mid-century modern feel, the lounge space gives room for 600 more people while also embracing its past, including an original Cigar Owl mural.
“It is a nice transition; a segue from the old to the new,” Chuck Naylor notes. “This is an elevated Harpo’s experience both figuratively and literally.”
The lounge comes to life at night, with higher-end liquor and furnishings. The environment fosters and nurtures the Harpo’s community.
Related: A lifetime of love — and Harpo’s. She was the first waitress; he was the first chef
The space is also available for catering, with a partnership with Bud’s Cantina BBQ. Anywhere from ten to 300 people could be hosted for most events from business team-building activities to myriad parties, and even wedding events.
“There are so many different events to be had here,” says Harpo’s business partner Dan Dolan. To schedule an event, contact the hospitality manager by email at Maddie@Harpos.com. From there the event can be customized and planned. The event will be fully immersive with valet service, private entrances, and whichever space suits the required function.
Behind The Landing is The Hideaway, an intimate speakeasy bar that serves high-end crafted cocktails. (Think martinis, Manhattans, or an old-fashioned.) Along with those classic, crafted cocktails, the lounge has its own collection of signature cocktail recipes.
It is a space to find yourself after work or on the weekends, escaping the loud sounds of the crowd. Here, a crisp, smooth drink beckons. Unwind and reset in the soft-leather seating and luxury setting.
The space is also a prime candidate for a business meeting. The intimate seventy-five-person room is great for professionals and an engaging career-directed conversation.
“The idea invokes that you can be at Harpo’s, but hide away from all the craziness,” Chuck Naylor says.
Both The Hideaway and The Landing are detail-oriented with masterful finishes. The environment is built off quality while staying true to its roots in history.
Scrapbook
The business partners agreed that purchasing the building next door for renovation was a significant opportunity for Harpo’s. It was a chance to improve the customer experience, foster history, and bring everything full circle by resurrecting the former Harvest Moon building.
“It was a year in the making,” Chuck Naylor explains. “We took over in August 2022, and we opened in August 2023, right in time for football season.” The new spaces are garnering positive feedback from customers.
Three key players are acknowledged for the expansion project. Brian Connell of Connell Architecture was the architect, with a vision for bringing the space back to the hospitality-driven business it was known for. Kent Murdock was the general contractor building out the vision and Wade Hall took on the crucial role of design consultant, giving the space its defining ambiance and personality.
The bar, now filling 24,000 square feet, has become increasingly modular.
“You could hold multiple parties in multiple different rooms and you’d never know,” Stephens explains.
Between the traditional pub-style space and the upscale service, Harpo’s Bar & Grill hosts a variety of vibes and atmospheres. Still, each one finds a way to feel at home and nostalgic. Order a drink and pull up a chair. Make yourself at home. Or find yourself in a whole new luxury experience entirely. No matter, it will be worth remembering, urging you to return.
Harpos Bar & Grill
573-443-5418
harposcomo.com
