THUNDER BAY – Pocketchange on Red River Road has the air of a speakeasy – and that’s exactly what the owner was going for.
Connor Remus wanted people to learn about Pocketchange, which had a soft launch on February 10, through word of mouth and social media.
There is very little signage outside the bar besides a letter P on the door below the address, 234 Red River Rd.
Some people think this is the coolest bar because you walk in not knowing it’s here, Remus said, “and you might think it's this tiny little place but it's not – it's huge.
“And then we have other people say, ‘oh, when are you putting your sign up out front?’
“I don't know if I will. Montreal does it. New York does it. Toronto has a few places with that whole speakeasy vibe. When you know, you know.”
With a capacity of 110 patrons and a very stylish interior, Pocketchange has become what Remus was aiming for – a secret spot where you can relax with a beverage and a snack while watching sports.
“You get this fun atmosphere, and you also get to watch the game,” Remus said.
Even without a large sign out front, once Pocketchange staff opened the outside door last Saturday and placed a sandwich board sign on the sidewalk, customers immediately started to wander in.
With its interesting interior, Pocketchange has a vibe all its own – one you won’t find anywhere else. In one area the walls are covered in an orange material with a repeated pattern resembling a four-petal flower, which is almost hypnotic.
Besides the walls in that area, “everything else is new – we repainted and redesigned the bar, DJ booth and the kitchen all since July,” Remus said.
When he and his partners were trying to decide the type of space to open, Remus knew he wanted it to be on Red River Road and it had to be different than Sovereign Room, Foundry, and Woodside.
That’s how Remus came up with the idea of opening a space that’s somewhere between a sports bar and a cocktail lounge, but the name Pocketchange was his sister Abby’s idea.
“Funny enough we all got together as partners at Nook one day for lunch. We're mulling over these great names, and we couldn't really decide on one.
“And then I had this one sitting in my pocket,” Remus said. “No pun intended.”
And then the server came up, he was maybe 22 years old, full of tattoos, one earring, and Remus asked: ‘Would you go to a place called Pocketchange?’
“He looked at us and said, ‘that's pretty freaking cool,’ and that's how I won that battle,” Remus said.
Pocketchange has its own beer – Penny Lager, made by Lakehead Beer Company, along with several unique cocktails, wines, sakes, mocktails, and snacks.
One drink Remus recommends is known as the Japanese Cold Noodle, which includes a blend of white rum, coconut water, coconut syrup, pineapple juice, cucumber juice, and lime juice – all crowned with a finishing touch of toasted sesame oil.
“The visual aesthetic of having a few drops of the sesame oil flow on top is very pretty,” he said.
“Not to mention when you sip it and you get the toasted sesame oil with coconut cucumber and pineapple – it tastes remarkably like a cold noodle, which is just fine.”
Take it from this reporter, the Japanese-inspired hot dog, Katsu Sando, is also very good.
It includes a caramelized all-beef hot dog nestled in a pretzel hoagie bun, adorned with house-made katsu sauce, crispy panko breadcrumbs, green onion, kewpie mayo, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Besides the fancy decor, multiple televisions, delicious snacks and drinks, and great music, there’s something else that makes this place special.
Because of his background in the service industry, Remus made sure to ingrain excellent service in Pocketchange staff.
“It just makes for such a well-oiled machine.”
Pocketchange is open Tuesday through Thursday, 5 to 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
To see the menu, follow this link.
To visit the Pocketchange Instagram page, click this link.
