Present Tense Bar

Started in 2020 delivering bottled drinks, Present Tense expanded into an on-site service backed by serious restaurant pedigree. Co-founder Derek Mercer brings over two decades of kitchen and bar experience from Chicago institutions like Spring, Spiaggia, and Blackbird, while co-founder Renee Prusacki channels an architectural background into the bar's physical design and visual branding. Operations flex across galas, corporate mixers, and private residences, frequently centering on custom-developed signature cocktails or stepping in to round out taprooms with wine and spirits.