The New 90s-Themed Pop-Up Bar in Vegas Has (limited) Charm

As a kid who grew up in the 1990s, I was jacked to hear about Close Company, a pop-up ’90s-themed bar in The Venetian’s Via Via Food Hall.

The lounge plans to operate through the end of the summer.

As expected, drink prices, especially for beer, are… elevated. And maybe I was disappointed to see $14 cocktails, which would be great… until you realize that’s for “zero proof” versions. Real cocktails are $17, which I suppose is pretty standard for a venue like this.

Then I scanned the bottled beer selection and saw an $8 option. Nice. Not bad for a lounge setting… But, OPE, that’s for a 7oz High Life.

Who the hell wants a 7oz beer? There isn’t a single person on Earth who has ever walked up to a bar and said: “Hello, do you have any of those 7-ouncers?”

Standard bottles of beer, the 12oz kind, start at $12.

They also serve $9-$10 pizza by the slice from Scarr’s Pizza, which is next door in the food hall.

Now, I’m not opposed to overpaying for drinks to be in a killer setting.

You won’t hear a complaint from me about spending $13 on a 16oz Bud Light at Ole Red, where I got a free show, $65 for a bucket of beer at a poolside cabana, or $19 for a cocktail at a Strip speakeasy.

As someone who’s experienced damn near everything in Vegas, I understand that the cost of admission is often inflated drinks, and I’m down with it.

While thick with nostalgia, the setting at Close Company just doesn’t justify an extended stay. It’s cool, but it didn’t get me to buy a second $12 bottle of Modelo, I can tell ya that.

This was a 1-drink-and-out scenario, for me at least.

Expensive beer aside, I did find much of the 90s decor to be smile-inducing, albeit quick to work through.

If I’m being honest, the decor felt a bit like someone went on eBay, bought a bunch of old stuff, and just set it on the tables/hung it on the walls.

Fun to see, but a low effort vibe. In hindsight, the 7oz beer I mocked may have been the perfect amount to see it all & split.

That said, there were items that hadn’t crossed my mind since I was a kid, like Trolls, transparent landline phones, a lava lamp, and a ton of music & movie promo material.

Despite taking a sarcastic tone on the venue in general, it elicited a few sly, nostalgic smiles.

I want you to view the pictures below with hit songs from the 1990s playing in your head, as they were in the bar. The tunes may have been the best part, TBH.

If you’re really into the 90s, Close Company is probably worth a visit if you’re in the area anyway. I wouldn’t go too far out of your way, though.

The music is period-specific, and much of the decor will serve as a reminder of all that was good about childhood.

That said, this isn’t a “blow you away” type of experience, and I had seen everything there was to see by the time my $13 bottle of beer was gone.

There was no reason to stay for another.

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