There’s been a lot of chatter about what June, the latest venture from the award-winning The Keefer Bar team, is all about. One speculation is a French restaurant with Michelin star aspirations – a hypothesis stemming from a ‘brasserie-inspired menu’ and the involvement of Chef Connor Sperling, who comes to the project via award-winning Published on Main and Boulevard. Other theories paint the (confusing) picture of a late night shooter-slinging and dart-throwing karaoke-fuelled dance party. (The latter is in part thanks to the requisite presence of a City of Vancouver notice cautioning the public of possible allowable activities, if/when June’s liquor license is approved.) But June is anything but that. It’s time we cut through the noise and lay out what’s actually happening at 3305 Cambie Street…

Earlier this week I met up with Co-owner Keenan Hood (the other half of the ownership team is Cam Watt,  who is also a partner at Keefer Bar) and General Manager Leticia Castro to talk through the details. Here is what I know: yes, Chef Connor Sperling is on board; but, although he has the proven talent and ability to operate at a Michelin star level that is most definitely not June’s objective. Chef Sperling’s menu will be less about perfection and more about easy sharing, with a casual, Brasserie-inspired-style (“à la bonne franquette”) with a contemporary hit, to create a nice balance of comfort and innovation. “Classics done right”, if you will – but not predictably.

If you are a cocktail enthusiast, then all you need is a surface-level scan of the names involved to be confident that the drink card will be on point. But once your scan registers the whole list? That’s when it sinks in just how special of a place June will be. For those who don’t choose their drinking holes based on a privately constructed pantheon of Vancouver bartenders, let me break it down: Amber Bruce (The Keefer Bar – a ’50 Best Bars’ regular) and Satoshi Yonemori (previously of award-winning Grapes & Soda; Diamond alum) lead the charge as Bar Director and Bar Manager, respectively; and it’s no secret that Operations Manager Leticia Castro (previously ¿CóMO? Taperia, The Diamond) can more than handle a cocktail shaker; as can Assistant General Manager Marlo Panucci and ‘OG’ The Keefer Bar Bartender, Keenan Hood.

In short, if you prioritize a well-made drink, June will be a sure bet. Expect a solid line up  signature cocktails (two on tap), a thoughtful selection of 20 wines – seven of which will be available by the glass (hat tip to This Is Wine School), plus sake, sherry, vermouth, low ABV options, and of course, a couple of cold beers on tap. Not to mention an in-house ice production setup complete with a window onto the refrigerated ice room for all to admire.

The powerhouse nature of June’s team is evident, but its strength extends beyond technical ability and pedigree. In Hood’s words: “We’ve been looking for the right place to invest our ideas, time, and creativity in the best possible way. We want to take everything we’ve learned and find a place where we can truly express our creativity from the ground up. More than that, we want to provide a stage for our talented [Keefer Bar] staff to grow. We care about our people.” It’s this last point that deserves pause, because small as it may seem, it actually plays deeply into the bigger picture…

From what I’ve been told, ‘family’ was a hot topic of discussion among the team during June’s planning stage. “Many of us are children of divorce, raised by our moms,” says Hood, “The unconditional warmth and nurturing we received from our moms is something we all really value. This is how we came to understand hospitality—by feeling love from our moms and seeing them take in our friends to make them feel welcome, like they always had a home. When I’m out visiting award-winning bars, the biggest selling point for me is always hospitality. I want feel looked after. That’s a big motivation for what we want to create with June, and that starts by looking after your staff. If they are looked after, they will pass that on.” Castro adds, “When I go to The Keefer Bar, I feel like I’m going to their home because the crew is tight, and they operate like a family. That’s what we want at June. The world needs more of that sense of belonging.”

Hood summarizes, “In a way, June is an ode to strong mothers, the steadfast figures who always had room for you at the table and remembered the details of your life, that’s the kind of hospitality that motivates us: Take care of family. Take care of friends.”

But let’s be clear: as nurturing and welcoming as the hospitality at June will be, the aesthetic will be far from “mom-jeans” style. Instead, imagine the effortlessly chic mom you admired on your coolest babysitting gigs; the impossibly stylish looking one breezing past you on her on her way out the door, who always gave you a little extra cash at the end of the night. To strike this delicate balance of welcoming and cool, the team is working with award-winning Mexican designer, Héctor Esrawe. Esrawe will be transforming the 150-seat space (previously Biercraft) into a two-level restaurant and lounge. Although the exact details of June’s design are still under wraps, based on what I’ve seen of the renderings, the finished product will be sophisticated and ‘Prada Mom’ slick. The colour palette of dark, natural tones will be accented by hits of copper, concrete and wood, with seductive lighting, indulgent textures and pleasing curves aplenty. In my mind, June conjures images of The Great Gatsby meets Blade Runner, seen through a wabi-sabi filter.

So, how long until the doors open? It’s unlikely that the plumbing and electrical will come together quickly (or cheaply); and many design elements – like the copper panels being hand-hammered in Mexico – still have to travel to Vancouver before being installed. But, slowly and surely, it is coming together; and for now, the team is aiming to open doors in the fall. Keep your fingers crossed! Follow June on IG  here.

OPENING CREDITS

Cam Watt | Co-proprietor
Keenan Hood | Co-proprietor
Letícia Castro | General Manager
Connor Sperling | Chef
Amber Bruce | Bar Director
Satoshi Yonemori | Bar Manager
Marlo Panucci | Assistant General Manager
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Branding | Best Studio
Architect | Héctor Esrawe

June

3305 Cambie St.

(Opening soon)