Downtown bar operators, The V Group (Website), managed to squeeze one more property through the works at City Hall before the recently-passed nightclub moratorium shut things down for the next six months. This concept promises to be a bit more chill though, as it’s being billed as a “listening lounge.”
A listening lounge or listening bar is exactly what the name hints at, a venue that simply specializes in good sound and good music. Patrons can sit back and enjoy a cocktail in a relaxing environment while resident DJs spin vinyl records. Given the city’s recent hullabaloo over sound levels, officials will be resting easy as listening bars tend to specialize in sound quality over how loud they can get their speakers and they’re meant to be a place to enjoy music rather than get sloppy drunk. In fact, the timing couldn’t be better, as City Hall pushes for a more family-friendly, neighborhood vibe downtown versus the “party atmosphere” they’ve come to hate.
The Proper (Instagram | Website) will feature rotating resident DJs that specialize in vinyl like DJ Nigel John (Instagram) who has made a name for himself with residencies at Lil Indies and Will’s Pub.
Guests will be able to scan a QR code at their table to identify the song that is currently being played/mixed by the DJ as well as make requests using a special artificial intelligence chatbot; one that was recently used by the World Cup – though requests will be limited. A special membership program will be launched at a later date that will also allow people to bring a record for a DJ to play during their visit.
Proper management shared with Bungalower during a behind-the-scenes tour that they also will be hosting ticketed entry events with curated playlists that will compliment specific feature drinks; drinks that have been curated by downtown Cocktail Guru Rene Nguyen of popular craft cocktail speakeasy, Hanson’s Shoe Repair (Instagram).
Nguyen posted on February 12 on his social media that he had passed the bar manager baton at Hanson’s Shoe Repair to Nico Sinnott, who has previously worked at hot spots like The Ravenous Pig and The Sunroom.
A grand opening is currently expected to take place on the week of April 14th. People can sign up to be notified of the opening event HERE on the Proper website.
Proper is located at 112 S. Orange Avenue [GMap] in downtown Orlando.
Check out our behind-the-scenes peek at the new space below, via our Instagram page.
