Seven:45, the Art District’s newest speakeasy, beckons with an irresistible coolness that transcends the ordinary.
The spot feels like one in a million, standing out against Vegas’ extravagant but at times predictable nightlife experiences. Seven:45’s overarching theme revolves around a profound respect for R&B music and its soulful rhythms—paired with well-crafted cocktails and sophisticated bites. It’s a chill vibe, marking the sweet spot where the buzz of daytime eases into the laid-back feel of the evening.
Owner DeAira Williams says that every inch of Seven:45 is carefully curated, and every one of its details is intentional. This intimate, warm and inviting space, imagined in collaboration withToronto-based interior designer Sean Brown, is powered by a melodic backdrop of perfectly-chosen playlists bumping over 50-year-old hi-fi speakers.
“This space is as shallow or as deep as you want it to be,” says Williams. “Each piece of art represents R&B culture to me.”
The pillars of this culture are represented in various ways. Vibe and Ebony magazines are laid out for guests to peruse; framed art and memorabilia, like a FUBU jersey and a blown-up 2001 Destiny’s Child concert credential, adorn the space; and custom-crafted tables are lined with embedded vinyl album sleeves.
Williams’ adoration for rhythm and blues didn’t just happen overnight—this lifelong passion has generational roots that goes back to her mother and grandmother. “Realistically, it’s my longest relationship,” says Williams. “I can remember being five years old and recognizing a connection.”
She connected this emotion-rich genre to certain vulnerabilities, like heartbreak and love, before she ever experienced them herself.
Her mother would play cassettes of artists like Jon B, Gladys Knight and Brownstone, and her grandmother had an affinity for similar artists, which resulted in a deeper connection. In fact, most of the vinyl at Seven:45 once belonged to her grandmother, which Williams had no idea she collected during her lifetime. After her passing in 2018, crates of records were passed down, and she honors her memory by displaying and playing them at the lounge.
This essential connection to music and heritage became the driving force behind Williams’ entrepreneurial journey. After completing all the objectives that society deems necessary—like earning a college degree, becoming a homeowner and landing a stellar corporate job as a marketing manager—there was a void that conventional success alone couldn’t fill. Becoming the owner and visionary behind Seven:45 wasn’t just a career move, Williams suggests; it was more akin to a natural evolution.
The ball got rolling during 2020, and her dedication never lost momentum once it picked up. Williams’ decision to sell her home and move back in with her mother was a sacrifice she had to make. With the help of friends and family the space was able to meet its full potential. They helped her finalize the song-themed cocktail program; her stepfather and uncle helped to tile the bathroom and bar areas; her mother makes the bites from scratch.
Since opening in September 2023, the response from locals and travelers is making an impact that reaches well beyond the speakeasy’s stylish walls.
”As a Black-owned business, sometimes we run straight to the corner of the industry and box ourselves in, and I’m grateful for the fact that we have something here that everyone can identify with,” says Williams. “I want to reiterate that we’re not a traditional bar. …We’re building a community.”
SEVEN:45 1531 S. Commerce St. #130, instagram.com/seven45lv. Thursday-Sunday, 7:45 p.m.-late.
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