Exploring the Speakeasy-Style Train Bar Nestled in a Desert Strip Mall?

Through the train window, snow-draped pine trees and the majestic Colorado Rockies pass by. I catch the distant sound of a train whistle and feel the gentle vibration of the tracks beneath me. The view momentarily fades as we enter a tunnel.

Yet, I’m neither on a train nor anywhere close to the Rockies: I’m in Phoenix, Arizona, at Platform 18, a bar crafted to mimic a 1927 Pullman train car.

This is just one of several themed bars within Century Grand, a transformed strip-mall location. These intricate bars aim to provide immersive experiences: Undertow evokes the feel of a 19th-century merchant ship, complete with stormy vistas through portholes and exquisite tropical cocktails, while Grey Hen channels the ambiance of a whiskey saloon inspired by an apothecary.

Yet, it’s Platform 18 that embodies the spirit of travel escapism. The concept first emerged during a trip in 2017 when co-founders Jason Asher and Rich Furnari visited Disrepute, a hidden London bar in a repurposed bomb shelter. Asher recalls being surrounded by the bar’s luxurious art deco details and thinking, “It felt like a train station.” When he explored the space now known as Platform 18, he had a similar realization.

Inspiration for the bar came from train travel across history, including the ornate elegance of the Orient Express and the pivotal transcontinental railroad's westward expansion that helped shape Arizona. Even the bar's name, Platform 18, nods to Harry Potter’s fictional Platform 9¾, while the second part references the 18th Amendment, which marked the start of Prohibition.

Platform 18 debuted in October 2019 but closed just six months later due to the pandemic. It gradually reopened in October 2020 and finally returned to full capacity in November 2021.

Asher, a seasoned bartender known for his unique pop-up bar Counter Intuitive, crafted an intricate drinks menu inspired by a fictional bootlegger, influenced by a group of real 19th-century railroad tycoons. Some cocktails tie into the narrative, while others celebrate general train lore. The playful Gas the Trucks (a Boulevardier-like drink with peanut fat-washed bourbon, Concord grape, and red bitters) evokes Asher’s childhood memories of watching trains roll in with the circus, bringing cotton candy and peanuts along.

Asher notes that if you rewind the story, it begins just as we’re exiting Canada. This makes sense: During Prohibition, many bootleggers transported alcohol from Canada to the U.S. using the railways.

The visuals that play between the green velvet curtains don’t showcase the Canadian Rockies but rather Colorado. This isn't stock footage; the crew filmed on the Durango & Silverton, one of North America's last open-air trains. They wore flameproof suits to shield against flying embers from the coal car while capturing six hours of stunning Colorado landscapes, which were later edited into a continuous 60-minute film for the bar.

Furnari reminisces about their initial attempt, where snow prevented shooting. They finally managed to film during the tail end of a significant snowstorm, embracing whatever nature offered them.

To engage all senses, the team incorporates modern technologies as well. For instance, they use 'butt-kickers'—devices designed to enhance gaming and film experiences—producing low-frequency vibrations that mimic the rhythmic sound of a train. The result is a speakeasy-style bar that feels like it was crafted by Disney Imagineers.

However, this is merely the start. They are already envisioning future narrative ‘destinations,’ from New Orleans (set for 2022) to a potential journey along the famed Orient Express in 2023.

Filming is planned to commence in early 2022 near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, focusing on nighttime scenes.

Furnari explains, “We’ll traverse parts of the bayou featuring historic structures, allowing for an appearance reminiscent of the 1920s rather than the 2020s. We won’t actually be on a train during this shoot. We can use drones, boats, or shoot from the back of a car—many techniques can simulate movement, enhanced with train elements.” Final touches, like animated characters referenced in the cocktail menu, will be added digitally.

The team has been examining a 1920s Pullman car at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale to gather authentic details. Consequently, they will create smaller windows, add a carpet runner down the center, and employ intentionally dramatic nighttime lighting to capture the essence of New Orleans' nightlife, as noted by Asher.

Given the limited size of the Platform 18 space, which can host up to 36 ‘passengers’ and frequently reaches capacity, plans are underway to launch a second location, likely in another state. While the exact site is not confirmed, a representative mentions interest in areas such as Miami, Nashville, Sun Valley in Idaho, and several cities across Texas.

Yet, their primary challenge lies ahead: “These are merely stepping stones for us,” Furnari notes. “The train requires a destination.”

An added feature will be a waiting room designed like a ‘train station’ outside the car, showcasing silhouettes of passengers boarding and alighting, with lighting effects simulating the train's arrivals and departures.

Furnari expresses, “We aim to consider the entire experience to create an atmosphere that makes you forget your surroundings, transporting you to another time and place.”

This long-term vision—to guide visitors from a faux train station to a Jazz Age bar car, leading to yet another imaginative scene—remains an exciting prospect on the horizon.

Furnari shares, “Imagine an experience where boarding a train transports you to a completely different destination, one filled with anticipation. That’s when people truly let go—when they travel to uncharted places. It’s all about embracing the moment and the joy it brings.”