Stranger Things creatives send nicest cease and desist letter to pop-up bar

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

About two years ago, I dined at the Beetle House in New York City, for my friend's redacted birthday. It's a small, whimsical and gothy little pub in the East Village inspired by Tim Burton and his majestic library of dark and delightful films. While taking in the dimly-lit decor, you can order drinks like the Big Fish Bowl, The Fleet Street Martini and Barnabus Collins – made from Bulleit Rye whiskey, crushed brown sugar, chocolate bitters and peychauds bitters. It's an entertaining hole-in-the-wall that also serves tasty appetizers and delicious entrees. By some miracle, the pub is still open to this very day, and you can enjoy Alice's cup o' tea or Sparky's Minty Margarita whenever you're in the area. But enough shilling for the Beetle House NYC, let's move on to out main event, shall we?

Recently, Netflix had filed for a cease and desist order to be served to a STRANGER THINGS-themed bar located in the Logan Square, Chicago area. The bar is called The Upside Down, and while some studios would be quick to swing the +5 to strength hammer down on an unsolicited venture such as this, the STRANGER THINGS creatives sent their legal kibosh to the bar in the nicest way possible.

You can read the letter penned to the pop-up installation below:

“Look, I don’t want you to think I’m a total wastoid, and I love how much you guys love the show. (Just wait until you see Season 2!) But unless I’m living in the Upside Down, I don’t think we did a deal with you for this pop-up. You’re obviously creative types, so I’m sure you can appreciate that it’s important to us to have a say in how our fans encounter the worlds we build. We’re not going to go full Dr. Brenner on you, but we ask that you please (1) not extend the pop-up beyond its 6 week run ending in September, and (2) reach out to us for permission if you plan to do something like this again.”

The Upside Down reportedly opened in August for a planned six-week run. As a part of the establishment's theme, the bar was set up to look like Joyce Byer's living room in addition to a section of Mirkwood Forest. As Christmas lights dance on the walls, servers diligently distribute STRANGER THINGS-themed cocktails to its patrons. What's remarkable about this situation is how cool Netflix is being about the whole thing. Normally, installations like this are ordered to shut down immediately, with further legal action waiting in the wings. For the moment, The Upside Down will remain open until its originally planned closing date.

Hmm, what do you suppose is on the menu at The Upside Down? I'm thinking they could serve the following items: Eleven's Chicken & Waffles, Chocolate Upside Down Cake, Barb's Non-Alcoholic Beer, Demogorgon Daiquiris and Joyce's Christmas Light Liqueur.

If you're at all interested in frequenting The Upside Down, I highly recommend that you and your friends make a reservation and soon, as the bar will close on October 1st.

STRANGER THINGS Seaons 2 is set for an October 27th.