What looks like a bank but acts like a bar? Vault, a new American spirits bar by the creators of Container Park’s Oak & Ivy, scheduled to open in February along Fremont East.
Taking over the space formerly inhabited by a check cashing business (and most recently Coterie), Vault’s décor will draw on that history, with vault doors and vintage bank lockboxes, says Chris Gutierrez, Oak & Ivy’s lead bartender, who spoke to the Weekly from Kentucky as he sourced Woodford Reserve barrels.
While Oak & Ivy is American whiskey-forward, Vault covers a broader range of American spirits, including craft gins, vodkas and rums. A large selection of barrel-aged cocktails will be menu highlights, as well as seasonally updated drinks with fresh juices and house-made sodas. The team is working to develop original snacks and might partner with nearby restaurants for more food options.
Education will be key at Vault, including a library of books about cocktails and their history in America. Gutierrez says he wants to make it as easy as possible for newcomers to learn about and enjoy the Prohibition/craft scene.
“We don’t serve whiskey,” Gutierrez says. “We serve guests, and we have whiskey.” Sounds like a policy to bank on.
