A little bit of history…
Model Citizen began as a vague idea, with just a name and a logo in 2014. The following year, it began in earnest as a cocktail pop up at Norfolk’s then-premier cocktail bar, Saint Germain. Featuring a variety of chefs, including Will Longoria, Model Citizen v1 was a Monday night “if you know you know” event, in a space that appeared closed from the outside. It was there that centrifuges, sonic homoginizers, liquid nitrogen and immersion circulators led technical advancement becoming a core concept of the Model Citizen brand. Following that, the name expanded as an umbrella to cover pop-ups, events and consulting…turns out people trust you more with an LLC.
The next milestone came when pop ups resumed at their current home, crudo nudo. After a series of very successful themed pop ups, including parodies of chain restaurants, breakfasts for dinner, and bananagrams tournaments, the vision has settled into its true self - a proof of concept for a casual bar, with high quality, tech-focused drinks.
Come see us the last Sunday of every month, from 5:30 to midnight at 727 W. 21st Street, in Norfolk, check out our instagram linked below, or our recipes page, and give us a shout for private events, buyouts, classes, or anything else you may need.
The Team
The pop-up could never happen without the hard work of the Model Citizen team:
Evan was the first ever bar back for the pop-up, and has become a vital member in the years since. He makes the syrups, juices the juice, and generally keeps Josh’s wheels on behind the bar. Blender-tender extraordinaire.
Brandice runs the floor - she’s the one making the restaurant look right (so many candles), setting up the touches to make the experience comfortable, and then taking excellent care of guests. Can also be seen jumping behind the bar towards the end of the night.
Jon Started as multi-purpose hands for our revolving door of chefs, but has cemented himself as the anchor of our kitchen. He shows up with extreme positive attitude (and usually a cool bottle of wine), and slings food for our patrons all night long.
