Some would argue that the speakeasy trend is overdone.

Some might argue that The Garrison isn’t a speakeasy.

I disagree with both of the above notions.

On January 20th of this year, I married my wife after a long-distance courtship spanning a little over 2 years. I am from Columbus, OH. She lived in Springfield, MO. I spent most of our courtship traveling to see her – a minor sacrifice in the grand scheme of things. The Garrison became one of “our spots.”

The Garrison is a large underground space in a larger development called Finley Farms. Finley Farms is a development masterminded by Johnny Morris, CEO of Bass Pro Shops fame. What do you do when you are a billionaire with a passion for your community? Why, you take an old mill and by golly you move that building a few hundred yards to exactly where you want it.

The Mill itself is an imposing building with a scenic view of the river. On the main floor, the restaurant and gift shop greet you. But we aren’t here to talk about those. A conversation with the host will point you downstairs armed with a password.

I won’t say exactly how you enter the Garrison, but the set-up is key. To get there you first have to pass through a cavernous downstairs area which seems to be empty space with some sparse museum like displays. It feels a bit forlorn and cut off from the busyness of the restaurant upstairs (which is always busy – we had our wedding rehearsal dinner there).

The forlorn nature of the dark gateway sets you up for the Garrison space itself to make a larger impression upon entry. For a speakeasy, the room does feel cavernous once you enter but its dark and classy. It feels exclusive without being pretentious. You have your pick of sitting at the bar, outside on the patio, at a traditional restaurant table or booth, or in a couch area.

The couch area is my personal favorite. You feel like you’re in a den of a mansion of a wilderness mogul (I mean duh, it’s Johnny Morris). Next to you there are terrarium-like display cases with plants and tiny taxidermy pieces. It’s a whimsical touch amidst the polished wood pieces, chandeliers, and extensive whisky selection.

Get the chocolate cake. It’s decadent but also the presentation is everything. You are greeted with a gargantuan piece that you’ll want to delude yourself into attempting to finish on your own. You’ll receive your own vessel for drenching your cake with bourbon Toffee sauce. It’s over the top. This is extra with a touch of class.

If you’re wanting to find a new favorite hangout spot with all the typical speakeasy bells and whistles, but with more nooks and crannies (and good food) to explore), the Garrison is for you. And, it is set up such that you won’t be overstimulated. Low lighting makes the extra detailed aspects a “what you make of them” ordeal, which will be ideal for many folks.

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Disclaimer: These aren’t my photos. The featured photo is from a Google Image Search and the bottom photo is from TripAdvisor.

Featured image description: A view of the main bar area, lit by two glass chandeliers with a dark moody setting.

Bottom image description: A view of the sofa seating area next to a fireplace, candlelight, and wall displays with small taxidermy displays.