Snippets of conversation can be heard to the track of upbeat jazz.  

A record player spins behind a full-service bar and ordering counter.

Inviting laughter spills inside from the patio, competing with the swinging big band music.

Amid the influx of restaurants and bars in West Columbia, Ikie Lu Record Club has found its niche – jazz kissa, a Japanese music listening philosophy.

“The focus there is that rather than music being an afterthought,” co-owner Matt Catchpole said. “…The music kind of takes a front seat as part of the experience.”

Kissaten are traditional Japanese cafes that are characterized by an intimate setting, drinks such as coffee or cocktails, and a feeling of nostalgia for a simpler time. A distinct feature is the importance of having sound systems to produce music at its highest quality.

The idea is having a resurgence, with listening rooms popping up across the country. But it’s something new in the Midlands. 

“A place in Columbia that plays good vinyl music the entire night is something that I think Columbia needs as opposed to the typical bar scene,” bartender and waiter Hunter Grant said. “…This is going to be one of the places that I can see really becoming a good addition to the economy.”

That’s what people like, the fact that Ikie Lu is doing something innovative and inherently unique. It is reinventing what’s considered normal, with the combination of caviar hot dogs and champagne spritzes set to a laidback atmosphere.

“I love being creative, and I just also love the environment here,” said lead bartender Lauren Killian. “I feel like I’m barely at work sometimes.”

Matt Catchpole is the brains behind the whole operation, someone who has built a reputation around trust and hard work. He has a magnetic personality, with a genuine kindness and respect for his staff and customers.

Catchpole wants people to participate in the idea of focused listening when they come to Ikie Lu. Putting music at the forefront is a key aspect to the originality of the space. 

“Vinyl was really one of the last times that you had to make an intentional decision to sit in one place and make a commitment to listening to music,” Catchpole said. 

Ikie Lu helps people of all ages slow down and truly appreciate one another’s company without the distraction of a phone.

“This is the tiny, little slice of protection from that and kind of like the little bit of a haven that we have as you can come here and choose to unplug for a little bit,” Catchpole said.

Local Columbians see that, too

“We’ve already established a few regulars even though we’ve only been open for nine weeks,” said co-owner and Matt’s fiancée, Katherine Hilson. 

The record club has plans to expand to accommodate their growing number of patrons. They are open to anyone from Thursday through Saturday afternoons.

An added membership experience is in the works on Sundays for those who have become regulars since the club’s opening. Some of those plans include a supper club with more elaborate menus and other community events.

One of those regulars is Brian Taylor, who found out about Ikie Lu six months ago through social media and has already bought his membership. 

He enjoys how different and unique it is. 

“It’s comfortable – it feels like you’re in somebody’s living room,” Taylor said.

Catchpole is excited about the popularity of Ikie Lu so far and its potential for continued growth in the future. 

“I think it’s a really encouraging sign that there is a little bit of a desire to return to a slower pace … and I hope that this is a piece of that,” Catchpole said.