Step into Nineteen Eighties Japan at 56709, LIC’s latest classic vinyl bar

July 3, 2025 By Jessica Militello
A brand new bar in Long Island City is transporting visitors straight into the neon glow of Nineteen Eighties Japan—one vinyl report and cocktail at a time.
56709, the newest idea from the staff behind 929 LIC, quietly opened on June 12 in a reimagined speakeasy tucked behind Gulp, the Taiwanese restaurant they initially partnered with for his or her first venture. While 929—an homage to Canto-pop and Mando-pop—is ready to relocate later this 12 months, the staff noticed a possibility to rework the hidden house into one thing recent.

Located at 42-45 twenty seventh St., the brand new lounge is the brainchild of Haoran Chen, William Guo, Jeff Liu (proprietor of Gulp), and Sean Yang, who reimagined the venue as a tribute to Japanese City Pop, mixing retro visuals, curated vinyl, and a themed drink menu for a one-of-a-kind cultural expertise.

The inspiration for the identify got here when Chen stumbled throughout a traditional vinyl from 1984: "Telephone Number" by Junko Ohashi, that includes the lyric "56709." “The idea was constructed on my private assortment,” Chen mentioned. “I used to be swapping out records from dwelling and making an attempt to determine what to name the place, and this music is a City Pop traditional—if you understand the style, you understand this music. I assumed it was the right identify.”
The lounge retains a comfy, classic aesthetic with low-slung leather-based seating, pink and blue neon lighting, and glowing yellow desk lamps. Walls are adorned with photographs of City Pop icons, and cabinets show rows of vinyl records—each beloved staples and hidden gems. The venue solely performs music from bodily codecs like records or tapes to take care of authenticity. Guests are inspired to browse the vinyl wall and choose one thing to play, creating a personalised soundtrack for the evening.

In addition to music, 56709 serves an creative lineup of Japanese City Pop-inspired cocktails, many named after musical icons and anime characters. Standouts embrace the Usagi, impressed by Sailor Moon (gin, violet, rose, inexperienced apple, elderflower, maraschino) and the Momoko (vodka, sake, peach, and vanilla sherry). The menu itself resembles a miniature telephone ebook or enterprise card binder, staying on theme with the lounge’s retro sensibility.

“I attempted to seek out posters of the artists featured on the drink menu,” Chen mentioned. “For instance, we’ve a drink referred to as Seiko, after a traditional ’80s Japanese pop icon. I would like the drinks and decor to spark dialog—it’s about discovery.”
Food is supplied by Gulp’s kitchen, mixing Taiwanese and Japanese flavors. Dishes embrace fried oysters with Taiwanese pickles and miso yuzu sauce, baked candy potato with miso butter and meat floss, and a chilly appetizer set that includes squid, spicy seaweed, and kimchi whelk. Other menu gadgets embrace mala fries, plum candy potato fries, and rooster over rice.
“The purpose we give attention to Taiwanese-Japanese fusion is as a result of Taiwan was beneath Japanese rule for almost 100 years,” mentioned Chen. “That affect nonetheless exists at the moment in Taiwanese evening markets—we’re recreating that crossover.”

56709 may also host visitor DJs from the Japanese music neighborhood, together with theme nights devoted to particular artists or subgenres inside City Pop.
The lounge is open six days per week:
Tuesday–Thursday: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Friday–Saturday: 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Sunday: 5 p.m. to midnight
“We’re making an attempt to make this house really feel like a time machine,” mentioned Chen. “It’s not nearly drinks—it’s about creating an expertise.”