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Photos: Enter Hollywood's Newest 1970s-Themed Bar Through A Fridge Door
Twin brothers Jonnie and Mark Houston (AKA the Houston Brothers) have conquered the nightlife scene with creative designs at Harvard & Stone, La Descarga and Pour Vous. This week, they launched a new throwback bar, Good Times at Davey Wayne's, out in Hollywood—and it really sends you on a groovy trip to the '70s.
There is something to be said about how giddy you can get walking through a closet door to get inside of La Descarga's Cuban speakeasy bar as if you're a character in The Chronicles of Narnia. The Houston Brothers give the same sense of awe to their laid-back Good Times at Davey Wayne's by having the entrance to the bar be a large refrigerator door inside of a garage that's concurrently holding a garage sale of vintage items. Christian Marcus, who also decorated the inside of the bar, is the owner and curator of the garage store. He told LAist he spent every day for six months shopping for vintage items for the shop. There are cool retro pantsuits, jewelry, records and toys in the room—and yes, they're all available for purchase.
When you walk inside the fridge door, you're immediately transported to what feels like the set of That 70s Show, but without the cheesy lava lamps. Striped couches surround a fireplace with a mantle decked with family photos. A pinball machine sits in the corner of the bar as well as a shuffleboard. The walls are decorated with old photographs, vinyl covers and Tab soda cans; the attention to detail here is impeccable. Music from Marvin Gaye and the Eagles are blasting in the background so you never have to forget what time period you're supposed to be pretending you're in.
The bar is a dedication to the Houston Brothers' father. "Their late father, David Wayne Houston, was a blue-collar pool shark who enjoyed late nights in his garage building and fixing things, some of the brother’s best memories," according to the bar's press release. "Known by his friends, and the ladies, as Davey, this bar is a tribute to him and to all who have lost their dads."
The nostalgia continues throughout the bar with throwback cocktails concocted by La Descarga's bar master Joe Swifka, with Mai Tais and Hurricanes and with drink names like "Tiny Dancer" and "Smoke on the Water." Beer is served in an adorable orange mug emblazoned with the words "#1 DAD" on it.
The bar promises some fitting entertainment for the future, including live bands, rollerskating duet and a trampoline show. There's a stage in the corner of the "living room" that is screaming good times.
Out back is a grassy (Astroturf) area with hammock chairs and cozy benches. Little yellow Christmas lights are strewn above the trees. Outside next to a camper, you can buy Texan-styled BBQ food with a modern take—and their items are damn tasty. The Pork Belly Sammies are succulent pieces of pork belly with green papaya and mango slaw. Their Not So "Dirty" Dog is bacon-wrapped with an avocado lime cream, pico de gallo and strips of crispy tortilla chips on top. The portions aren't huge, but then again, they have a gourmet-meets-homey quality to them...and you're at a bar.
Although you know deep down that you're not in the '70s, you can't help but get lost for a moment as if you're in a real home on a summer night sipping on some beer and noshing on BBQ with your buddies.
Good Times at Davey Wayne's is located at 1611 N El Centro Blvd. in Hollywood. The hours are Monday through Fridays from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. (with happy hour from 4 p.m to 8 p.m.) and Saturdays through Sundays from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. (with happy hour from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.). Dress code is comfy casual California with no shorts, sandals, or athletic wear after dark.
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