Southeast Portland Photo Gallery | New lounge will let customers pay what they want for a show
Photo by Shannon L. Cheesman, KATU.com Producer/Reporter
- 1 of 7
- ››
PORTLAND, Ore. - "It's one part bar, one part theater, all parts fun."
That's how Trenton Shine, co-owner of the new Funhouse Lounge that is about to open in Southeast Portland, describes the place.
He and his business partner, long-time best friend Andy Barrett (who already owns the Gladstone Street Pub with his brother), have been working for five months to remodel an old printing shop at 2432 S.E. 11th Avenue and turn it into their dream venue - a lounge/improv theater with a modern cabaret feel. The two are hard at work putting the finishing touches on the space in advance of next week's big grand opening.
Shine and Barrett have decades of improv experience between the two of them and their troupe, dubbed The Unscriptables, will be performing at the Funhouse Lounge every Saturday. And they plan on adding more shows during the week later down the road.
"We do long-form improv, full-length unscripted plays," said Shine. "So it's a little different than other troupes that do short little games like what you see on Whose Line Is It Anyway."
Another thing that makes the shows different from others is that admission will be on a 'pay what you want' basis.
"Some troupes will do a run of shows and one night is a pay what you want night," said Barrett. "We talked about it and decided that we wanted to do all our shows that way. We have a suggested price but you don't have to pay. If you want to go out but can't afford it that week, you could still come. You're not going to get a dirty look."
The same model has been tested at a Northeast Portland cafe called Panera Cares. You might recall that early last year they began letting their customers decide how much they want to pay for their food.
The program at Panera Cares got a rough start and it appeared it wouldn't work out after all. But they've turned the corner recently, according to a report in The Portland Tribune.
We asked Shine and Barrett if they are worried about losing money and they said no.
"We started doing it over a year ago (when their shows were held at local parks and other venues) and what we found was that when you give out coupons and 2-for-1 deals and stuff like that to get people there, by the time you do all that, well we worked out the numbers and it worked out about the same," explained Garrett.
"With our type of theater, we do one show and that's it. We do the same genre but (with improv) that show is that night only. So we would rather have as many people see that show as possible," said Shine.
"It's like they say - I'd rather play to a house of 40 people who paid $5 each than a house of 10 people who paid $20 each," said Garrett. "It's the same money but it's totally different. Especially for what we do because the audience is such an integral part of it."
Now while the shows will be on a pay what you want scale, the food and drinks will not.
Beer (non-draft) and hard liquor shots will be sold at the bar and customers will be able to order hot press sandwiches and happy hour specialties like bacon jam crostini and flavored popcorn.
"(We want this to be) a place for people to hang out with friends, be social, see a show and get some food and drinks," Shine said. "Our theater company was already kind of a date night thing and so this just makes it more of a date night all in one place."
"It's the kind of place where I think there's going to be a lot of different crowds," said Bennett. "The other place (Gladstone Street Pub) is very much a neighborhood bar and there's a type that comes in there, generally. But I think there's going to be a cross of gay, straight, early 20s, late 30s - I think there's going to be a wide range of different ages and lifestyles that come in here."
If you do stop by Funhouse Lounge you'll likely see Shine or Barrett there. The two said they want to be an integral part of the establishment and connect with the community.
"We're going to be here all the time," said Barrett. "We're not going to be absentee owners."
They said Mayor Sam Adams even stopped by recently to check out their new place. They said he told them he was happy to see an arts venue opening up in the neighborhood and that it will be a wonderful contribution to the community.
If You Go
- The grand opening is Thursday, Jan. 12 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Hours will be Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 12 a.m., Fridays from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
- For a map and directions
- The venue is mainly for adults but minors are permitted weekdays before 7 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays before 10 p.m.
- Most of the shows are tailored for all audiences. The owners rate them as PG13, only because you never know what will happen during an improvisation.
- For a list of shows and more information about Funhouse Lounge
