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Key Party, a cheeky 70s-inspired bar, opens on Main St. (PHOTOS)

It shouldn’t be surprising that a team that likes to blend the creative with the irreverent are behind Key Party, a new 1970s-inspired bar that flirts with kitsch and naughtiness.
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The bowl of keys (Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)

It shouldn’t be surprising that a team that likes to blend the creative with the irreverent are behind Key Party, a new 1970s-inspired bar that flirts with kitsch and naughtiness.

The project is the long-awaited sub-venue of the Rumpus Room on Main Street, which was resurrected last year in the former Foundation space by business partners Rachel Zottenberg and David Duprey (they’re also behind The Emerald Supper Club, Narrow Lounge, Uncle Abe’s, and This Monkey’s Gone to Heaven).

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Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome

Tapping into that speakeasy on the down low vibe, the front window of the space at 2303 Main Street bears the name Zottenberg and Sons Accounting. It looks like an outdated office space, complete with a “Hang in there” kitten poster, adding machine, and various ephemera of a long-gone era.

Don’t be fooled – this is the entry way to a red-walled, velvet-curtained, cheeky mural-ed space complete with seating for 50 and a custom-made curved wooden bar. Oh, and when we say the mural is cheeky, that’s literal – hello, lovely bum cheeks, and a tiger, oh my!

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Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome

At the doorway is the requisite bowl of keys – but don’t even think of stealing them, or any of the cool memorabilia in the entry – the Key Party team has it all glued down. Whether you take the theme to heart we leave up to you and your partner.

The bar is aiming to create a fun after work and into the night space for drinks, snacks, and good times. Once seated, every table gets a bowl of party mix for munching on while they peruse the drink menu.

Look for all sorts of wild, wacky, and whimsical options coming from behind the stick: Drinks include plenty of throwback vibes like the Spiced Sunrise, Coconut Cream Grasshopper (a veganized version of the classic), B-52, and Cherry Paralyzer, along with layered shots, shots using custom-made fruity tapioca pearls bubble tea-style, and a Kir Royale jello shot that layers vodka and champagne jello with cassis liqueur jello and is topped with whipped cream and sprinkles.

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They’re making cocktails using tapioca pearls (Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)

Also from the bar comes a selection of candies that are dazzling to the eye, harkening to the 1970s film take on Charlie & the Chocolate Factory‘s behind the counter spread at the village candy shop. Those candies are destined for future cocktails, and may even show up on the menu as a snack-y option.

When it comes to snacks, the nod to the 70s continues with the Rumpus Room’s Ants on a Log moving over and getting a more grown-up twist, with dill-infused Cheez-Whiz topped with fried beet chips filling celery sticks. There’s a vegetarian chili cheese dip with tortilla chips; a vegan platter with a curried chickpea spread, crackers, and avocado with olive tapenade; a charcuterie board; and other small bites designed to share.

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Ants on a Log (Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)

Key Party is launching Thursday, Feb. 21, and will be open daily from 5 pm, seven days a week, until 1 am Sunday through Thursday and until 2 am Friday and Saturday.

Check out a few more preview photos of Key Party:

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Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome

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Enter through the “accounting office” (Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)

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Cocktails at the bar (Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)

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Vegetarian chili cheese dip with chips (Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)

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Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome

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Layered shots (Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)

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Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome

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Kir Royale Jello shots (Photo by Lindsay William-Ross/Vancouver Is Awesome)

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