A new dining and social spot has recently opened in downtown Barrie, touting itself as “not just a restaurant and not just a party place.”
Liars Kitchen + Social, located at 34 Dunlop St. E., the former site of The Foundation Nightclub, swung open its doors just over a month ago after six months of renovations and more than a year of planning.
Described as a “supper club,” the venue is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
“Early in the evening, we run it as a kitchen and restaurant, and as the night goes on we transition into a high-energy social venue, balancing an upscale dining experience with a fun nightlife atmosphere,” Dustin Leigh, one of the leaders behind Liars, tells BarrieToday.
“The dinner starts off more intimate, with good food, drinks and conversation. As the night progresses, the music gets a little louder, the DJ comes on, the lights start to move faster and what started as a casual dinner and drinks turns into more drinks and dancing,” he says.
The 19-plus venue, before 10 p.m., is all about the food, Leigh said, so the crowd is more diverse — even up to people in their 70s.
But after 10 p.m., as the business slowly transitions into nightlife, the median age shifts to late 20s and early 30s.
“I’d say that’s our average … with a professional dress code, different zones and a high-end setting making it so multiple age groups can enjoy themselves within the same venue without turning each other off or even noticing, for that matter,” Leigh says.
The transition concept is what sets them apart from other social spots, according to Leigh.
“Where we really differentiate ourselves from most supper clubs you’d find in places like Toronto, Las Vegas or Miami is our multi-level, multi-vibe setup,” he says.
The venue boasts different areas with their own unique energy.
“One is more 'loungey,' another has a modern club feel and we even have a house party-style social area. On top of that, we run a DJ on one floor and live music on another, so you get the feeling of bar-hopping without ever leaving the venue. It all ties together under one cohesive brand, giving people options while keeping the experience seamless,” says Leigh.
Leigh says they are in talks with larger-scale concert, event and comedy professionals to bring some “exciting experiences” to the space.
“Our bread-and-butter will always be dinner, drinks, and dancing, but once we’re fully settled, we’ll be introducing larger events on off-nights to make the most of the venue,” he says.
Liars employs more than 70 people, with a mix of full-time, part-time and some individual contractors.
