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Like the Blue Monk before it, the basement is where the Liquor Store really shines. The staircase leads to a narrow room, with a small bar at one end and the imposing Funktion One sound system—supposedly one of the world's finest—at the other. Large white frames line the walls for future art installations. Smaller than comparable venues in town and with an equally powerful sound system, the Liquor Store aims for dance music lovers with an ear for quality.
But the Liquor Store has bigger fish to fry than just sound fidelity after previous tenant the Blue Monk shuttered after a capacity violation from the Fire Marshall. "We installed an extra fire exit and a sprinkler system up and downstairs without being asked," Morrone says. "It was kind of a death trap in here before." With 89 people downstairs—the current capacity and equal to the Blue Monk's—one might still feel crowded to death, but at least it will be cozy. "We want to keep it intimate. We don't want to be Holocene."
But Holocene, till now Portland's main dance destination without a "NW" on its street address, also recently upgraded their sound system. As have Rotture and Branx, who are also making a pull for the club crown after pulling a couple promoters from Whiskey Bar. In all, competition is exactly what the dance music scene here needs, and competition—big and small—is what we'll get.
WWeek 2015