Cozy couches, lush pillows and handcrafted cocktails — The Wicked Wolf has created an unexpected but beloved setting for Long Beach’s book clubs, board game gatherings, open mic nights and ever-growing list of local meetups.
It’s exactly what owner Thea Mercouffer envisioned when she spotted the cottage-like building sitting snugly in the Wrigley neighborhood.
“To me it looked like a cottage in the woods, what I imagined the ‘Hansel and Gretel’ cottage would look like,” Mercouffer said. “It’s a fairy tale. It’s that tiny house on the street that people would walk by and is lost in the urban woods.”
Much like “Hansel and Gretel,” the cozy brick building with its roof just slightly pointed in the center holds tasty treasures for those who venture inside. Their menu of fantasy-themed cocktails such as “Fairy Fizz,” and “Once Upon a Time” are more than just clever monikers. Each drink boasts a list of elaborate flavors, with juices, syrups, grenadine and even the ginger ale made in-house.
“The Fairy Fizz,” made up of Junipero gin, Lo-Fi Gentian Amaro, Kleos Mastiha Liqueur, super lime juice, blood orange syrup, rich turbinado syrup, sparkling wine and tonic water, was crafted by local bartender Nick D.
One of the most popular selections is bartender Ashleigh H.’s spirit-filled invention “The Jack Albert” which consists of Bowling & Burch gin, Luxardo maraschino, super lemon juice, pea flower simple syrup, Fee Foam and rose water spritz.
The Wicked Wolf also offers classic cocktail selections such as an old fashioned, espresso martini, paloma and a dozen others. Mercouffer keeps the menu fresh by inviting local bartenders to host educational cocktail workshops and cocktail-crafting competitions.
When a bartender introduces a new creation that becomes a favorite, The Wicked Wolf credits them for their idea on the menu, an uncommon practice in bars and cocktail lounges.
“It takes a lot of imagination and work to come up with a drink that’s well balanced and special … I felt it was right to give them credit and didn’t know that’s not customary to do,” Mercouffer said. “In some ways not knowing the industry has worked in our favor.”
Mercouffer, not much of a drinker herself, didn’t want to run a typical bar with loud music, cheap but strong drinks and the occasional karaoke night. She wanted to own a bar that she would frequent herself, again contributing to The Wicked Wolf’s unique setting.
“I wanted it to be safe and comfortable for women,” Mercouffer said. “Not knowing much about bars, I went to design it and one thing led to another; I ended up designing it as a super nice place.”
The Wicked Wolf greets residents with extravagant, Victorian-inspired furniture with rich colors and textures, ornate glassware, unique art, dazzling chandeliers and a mischievous female wolf watching over its patrons. Mercouffer refers to it as “the queen’s cottage,” a setting both inviting and lavish.
The collection of antique-but-chic decor is the result of months of scouring Facebook Marketplace, fabric stores, yard sales and freebies for one-of-a-kind pieces begging to be salvaged. Mercouffer went against advice she received to opt for cheaper, replaceable furniture and instead doubled down with plush pillows and lush fabrics.
So far, she said no one has stolen or even damaged any of the accessories or furnishings.
“We went for the art of it and I think people came to appreciate that and enjoy that. They take ownership in that,” Mercouffer said. “I think it speaks to who our guests are. We have an incredibly diverse group that comes through every age range and demographic, every walk of life. They’re just really good people, but they don’t come to our place to get drunk, they’re coming for the cocktails.”
The success and community embracement of The Wicked Wolf also speaks to Mercouffer’s ability to fully commit to whatever she sets her sights on. Since she emigrated from Romania to America with her family when she was 21 years old, Mercouffer has dived headfirst into her passions, from acting to filmmaking to eventual business owner.
Mercouffer grew up under a communist dictatorship in Romania, calling it “an enormous stroke of luck” that her family was able to obtain visas to move. She can still recall arriving at an airport in Pennsylvania carrying large canvas bags filled with clothing equipped for any type of weather, plus pots, pans and personal items.
While Mercouffer studied acting at Penn State, she admired how her mother saved up money by hand-sewing dresses at $5 a pop until she could afford to open up her own shop and place to live.
Mercouffer left the acting world after a stint off Broadway once she had children and started making film documentaries for the Refugee Women’s Alliance while she served on the board. She helped produce a film teaching women how to identify sexual assault in various situations and another explaining what human trafficking is, each with multiple casts and languages.
Mercouffer grew to enjoy the freedom her filmmaking came with, and when her daughter started college she decided to take things a step further and venture into owning her own business.
“I wanted to prove to myself that I can run my own business, because my mom had her own business and my grandmother had her own grocery store where we lived in Romania so I felt like maybe it’s in my blood somehow,” Mercouffer said.
The Wrigley neighborhood in Long Beach won her heart as soon as she saw the cottage-like building, and the community around welcomed her. Mercouffer envisioned The Wicked Wolf becoming a “cultural hub” for Long Beach, bringing people in for a chill night with friends or to explore a club or workshop.
As Mercouffer spoke to the Signal Tribune on Feb. 27, she was gearing up to host a mixology class, a writers series, an open mic night and a networking event all for the same week. On March 8, The Wicked Wolf will host a Women’s History Month exhibit in partnership with the Historical Society of Long Beach.
The exhibit will highlight women in local history who have made a lasting impact on their community. The opening reception on March 8 will also feature women-owned alcohol brands, a “La Loba” cocktail which will help fund a nonprofit and female musicians. The event is free to attend.
The Wicked Wolf doesn’t charge artists or clubs to use the space as long as members support the bar by buying either a cocktail, mocktail or bottle of water.
“I want the space to be open as much as it can for whatever they [residents] want,” Mercouffer said. “If they succeed, we succeed.”
The Wicked Wolf is located at 2332 Pacific Ave. and open Mondays through Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and Sundays from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
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