Cassidy WaigandPeoria Journal Star
Jessie Yoskin has long dreamed of opening her own bar. Over the years, she made multiple attempts to bring her goal to fruition, facing unexpected challenges along the way.
When her family moved to the Peoria area late last year, however, Yoskin saw a new opportunity to bring her dream to life.
“We love the place, and we love the people. So, the only thing that's missing is a good co*cktail bar…” Yoskin said. “We were like, 'All right, well, we can fix that.’”
Yoskin expects to open Nightjar in July with business partner Cassy Gilbert and kitchen manager James McGinnis. Situated in the former home of Bearded Owl Brewing, Yoskin said the concept will meld craft co*cktails and beers – while also serving pizza and other food.
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‘A passion for what I'm doing’
Yoskin has spent over two decades in the restaurant industry and said she began with a focus on pastry making.
When she was introduced to craft co*cktails roughly seven years ago, Yoskin found she was combining and mixing many of the same flavors. Yet, she said co*cktails offered more flexibility and creativity than baked goods.
“That was where I really found like a new fire in my belly and a passion for what I'm doing,” Yoskin said. “I just loved the creativity aspect of it. I loved the technique. I loved how much you could do with co*cktails.”
Yoskin said the bar she began working at – situated in Washington state – opened as the area’s first elevated co*cktail bar. The bar manager, she said, took her “under his wing and taught me the entire world of craft co*cktails.”
Over time, Yoskin watched as the business garnered more and more community support.
“That was when my dream of owning my own bar was kind of born,” she said. “I saw that and I said, 'Man, I want to do this for my own place.’”
After multiple attempts, Yoskin said she was close to achieving her goal. She found a location for her envisioned business – situated over 4,000 miles away from Peoria, Illinois.
The plan was to open in Lahaina, Maui.
“It was actually the day before we were going to go sign the lease, it burnt down,” Yoskin said.
The August 2023 wildfire in Hawaii destroyed her friends’ homes, her place of work and her plans for the future. In the aftermath, Yoskin’s family decided to move back to the U.S. mainland. She said they considered Peoria because her husband had family from the area.
Yoskin said Peoria stood out as a good-sized city with plenty of restaurants and places to explore. As she researched the local bar scene, she discovered Bearded Owl Brewing and its craft beers but was saddened to learn that the business was closing.
So, she reached out to owner Nick Babco*ck. Soon after, Yoskin had another chance to bring her dream to life.
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‘A distinctly Peoria feel’ with old world charm
For the business, Yoskin partnered with Cassy Gilbert, former head brewer at Bearded Owl Brewing. As they envisioned the new concept, Yoskin said Gilbert suggested the name Nightjar.
“We do like the idea of paying homage to the legacy that's being left by the Bearded Owl,” Yoskin said, “and nightjars are such a cool nighttime bird, and it fits very much with sort of what we're going to be doing.”
Inside of Nightjar, customers will find an “old world apothecary style” with vintage decorations, dark wood and apothecary bottles.
Yoskin said the goal is to “embrace” the old New Orleans style of the building while also preserving its Peoria charm.
“I feel like what's really cool about this town is that it has a lot of character, and it has a really nice feel to it,” she said. “And so, I want to make sure that that's being brought into the bar as well – is that it still has a distinctly Peoria feel to it.”
Outside, Yoskin hopes to make use of the business’s beer garden this summer. She plans to create handcrafted ice cream for guests to enjoy and expects to offer beer floats, as well.
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‘A place where everybody feels comfortable’
Nightjar’s food menu will primarily revolve around pizza and dishes that can be cooked in a pizza oven, Yoskin said.
The business’s drink menu will pair Yoskin’s passion for craft co*cktails with Gilbert’s brewing experience.
“We really want to make sure that there's a nice marriage of those two concepts,” Yoskin said. “So, we'll be doing beer co*cktails. We’ll be doing co*cktails on draft – which’ll be really fun. We're going to have an old-fashioned on draft, as well as an espresso Martini – both with sort of a beer twist to them.”
Customers will find a variety of craft beers – including seasonal options – featured on the menu. Along with this, Yoskin said the business hopes to offer to-go options for guests to enjoy at home.
For the co*cktail selection, Yoskin plans to serve old, “sort of forgotten co*cktails” and unique, modern drinks.
Nightjar’s menu will also feature a dedicated selection of non-alcoholic options, Yoskin said, as she realizes many people do not drink or are working to drink less. She said the selection will be “just as delicious and just as beautiful as all of our alcohol drinks.”
For Yoskin, the goal is to offer something for everyone at Nightjar.
“I want to create a place where everybody feels comfortable,” she said, “where everybody can walk through that door and know that they're going to be able to sit down and have an experience regardless of what they eat, what they drink or what they believe.”
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