Lock and Key Social Drinkery

Lock and Key Social Drinkery

By:  Maria Batarce and Linda Celis

Tired of the hustle and bustle of our extremely busy schedules, Linda and I decided to venture outside of our regular stomping grounds and decided to take a trip up north, well as north as the city of Downey that is.  Downey is a city in Los Angeles County that is located 13 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles.  Downey’s downtown slowly deteriorated until there was little nightlife, that is, until locals decided to take action and revitalize its downtown.  Marc Shelton is one Downey native that decided to invest in its downtown and opened a 3,100-square-foot gastro pub named the Lock and Key Social Drinkery in the fall of 2013.  The pub is located in what was previously the Downey Music Center

.  And this is where Linda and I ended up.  This of course was not by accident as Linda and her husband are personally acquainted with Marc Shelton.   Marc was gracious enough to allow us to tour and photograph his masterpiece two years in the making.  Marc completely gutted and renovated the interior of the building, no stone, or wall was left unturned.  As a result Marc had to deal with many of the inconveniences of remodeling an older building; this included issues with the city’s fire codes.  An interesting fact that Marc mentioned was that the fire insulation he added throughout the building is environmentally friendly as it is made of plant materials and it never catches fire.  I feel safer already!  As you enter the premises, you become enthralled with what the new design has become, Urban Rustic.  Although the place has overall masculine feel, it is beautiful and inviting.  The floors are finished concrete which not only emphasizes the masculine décor, but it is environmentally friendly as well (excellent choice Marc!).  There is wood everywhere; on the tables, walls and ceilings and we love it!  The natural wood is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it also conveys warmth and makes you feel welcomed.

The wooden tabletops appear to be made from reclaimed wood which is environmentally friendly as it is a recycled resource. The wood on the walls is actually used as wainscot as the walls are charcoal grey in color with accent walls in a silver and black harlequin pattern.

The harlequin pattern is in printed on vinyl with the black diamond area of the pattern in a velvety texture which gives the walls a cool and funky feel.  The vinyl wall covering is an excellent idea as it is not only a sustainable resource, but it is also very durable making it a perfect material for commercial use.  The booths are upholstered in tufted black vinyl; the booths are comfortable to sit in and the vinyl upholstery is very durable making it another perfect selection.  Continuing the tour of the place we decided to pay homage to the porcelain gods by visiting the restrooms.  The masculine theme continues into the restrooms, with dark vinyl wall coverings.  Although masculine, we loved the restrooms.  The walls are dark and shinny, resembling metal plating, and they create a nice clean look.

At one point I felt like I was inside a metal tool box!  We loved that the baseboards and crown moldings in the restroom are a shiny aluminum material; we felt that that small detail added a nice contrast to the dark restroom.  After our restroom detour, we headed to the bar for alcohol-free beverages.  The bar is well stocked and the overall look is sleek and modern.  There is seating at the bar comprising of black plastic chairs with a thin cushion.  Although we would not have thought that this particular seating selection would be comfortable, it actually was.   Also, the bar area is the brightest space in the bar.  There are two large flat screen televisions flanking the bar built-ins, where you can watch your favorite team play while enjoying your favorite poison.  The spirits are also well lit, inviting you to come over for a visit.  The lighting throughout the bar is very minimal; Marc wanted to create an intimate ambience by using lighting that was between 2,700 and 3,000 Kelvin which we feel it works well in the space.  Throughout our time there, we felt at ease, comfortable and relaxed; as if we were at home hanging out with a group of friends.  The pub has only been open a few months but it has already gained a following due to its hip contemporary vibe.   

We highly recommend you visit Lock and Key Social Drinkery, where the ambience is inviting, the food is delicious, and we are pretty sure the drinks will be amazing.  So next time you are looking to have a good time head out to Downtown Downey where you can let lose, have a good time and meet new friends.  Cheers!