Overview
At plenty of Fortitude Valley bars, you can dance the night away. At some, you can play games, get putting and win prizes instead. Only at Pawn & Co, however, can you buy everything in sight — and not just the beverages — in-between making your own scent. Some of the tipples that you'll be sipping while you browse, hang out, and just generally take advantage of this combined watering hole, pawn shop and perfumery are inspired by fragrances as well.
It's a bold concept: a nightclub that not only takes its cues from completely different kinds of establishments that don't normally serve drinks, but operates as them, too. Pawn & Co first debuted in Melbourne and, as initially announced in July 2024, has now made its first foray outside of Victoria on Ann Street in Brisbane. The 500-square-metre Bakery Lane space that Laruche previously called home has undergone a $4-million refurbishment to cater to its new inhabitant — and to ensure that patrons know that they're in the type of bar that's new to the River City.
Yes, you can purchase whatever you like within Pawn & Co's walls. If you've been known to window-shop when having a few tipples — wondering if your own cocktails would taste better out of the same glasses, if your lounge room would be more relaxing with the same couches and if your dining room would be moodier with the same lighting, for instance — then you can turn that pondering into a reality here.
Need a new handbag? A watch? A $390,000 Bentley, which sits in the front window? They're just some of the items that you can go home with if you mix your drinks with a spending spree. Fancy your own signature scent? You can create them while you're there, complete with masterclasses with perfumers.
Obviously the drinks are for sale, too, but you can't take them with you.
How do you deck out a place that slings drinks, aromas and all that falls within its walls? Co-founders Josh Lefers and Stephen Wools, plus their collaborators Steve Thomas and Alex Docherty — who also boast Ballers Clubhouse in Melbourne and Adelaide, and Melbourne's StoryVille and 29th Apartment, on their combined resumes — have gone luxe. Pawn & Co Brisbane features an art deco-inspired piano bar among its many other inclusions, such as rich colours, retro patterns and slide-out furniture. And the atmosphere? Elegant, lavish and piquing patrons' curiosity, befitting somewhere where martinis and Rolexes sit side by side on the menu.
The vibe may scream lavish, but getting inspiration from pawn shops also means appreciating the circular economy and sustainability. Accordingly, while some of the objects on sale are upmarket goods, others are pre-loved and hail from thrift stores.
"We wanted to create a venue that not only delights the senses but also champions sustainable fashion. Pawn & Co is a haven for closed-circle fashion goods, blending the excitement of thrift shopping with the luxury of a high-end cocktail experience," explains Wools.
Find Pawn & Co Brisbane at 680 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley — open from 5pm Wednesday–Sunday. Head to the venue's website for more details.
Images: Dominic Loneragan.