Burger Bar-meets-Burlesque, the infamous Forty Deuce Café and Club has officially opened its doors here at Easton! The “Straight from Hollywood and Las Vegas” concept introduces gourmet burgers and Instagram-worthy shakes that will bring everyone to your feed. However, there’s a secret for those in the know that’s getting talked about all over town and it’s not just the food—it’s the entertainment scene hidden away upstairs! We sat down with the nightlife innovator Ivan Kane to talk about what inspired this concept to expand to the Midwest. Let’s dig in!
Why Easton?
Ivan Kane’s clubs are known for their live entertainment and high-profile celebrity clientele. When we spoke to Ivan about why he decided to come to Easton, he said, “their forward-thinking and ever-evolving approach to the guest experience checked all the boxes for Ivan Kane Enterprises; i.e. a vibrant, relevant and sophisticated city with a hugely successful business model and diverse demographic. I couldn’t think of a better place to launch our mid-west flagship than at Easton.”
Unlike Ivan’s previous venues, The Forty Deuce at Easton includes a seven-day-a-week lunch, dinner and late-night Café as well as the speakeasy upstairs where guests walk through the kitchen before entering the speakeasy through a walk-in refrigerator door. “The new entertainment options are incredibly compelling and add an entirely new dimension to the Easton experience. We expect Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce Café and Speakeasy to be a huge draw from the moment it opens. There’s simply nothing like it in the region,” said Jennifer Peterson, Chief Executive of Easton Shopping Center.
It Starts with Kane
Ivan Kane is most known for his successful 20-year career as an actor in Los Angeles, California, including being introduced in the Best Picture Oscar-winning Platoon. After selling a script he wrote to HBO that they produced and aired, he opened his first bar called “Kane.” Five years later he opened his first burlesque club in LA. Ivan wanted to create something more experiential by redefining burlesque and putting it back on the map.
Setting the Stage
If you’re looking to have a good time for a night out, Forty Deuce is the place to be! The two-level, 6,400-square-foot venue features elevated burgers on the first level and a Las Vegas-style burlesque club upstairs. The Cafe is decked out with murals of New York City and pictures of 42nd Street. The name Forty Deuce is a nod to Ivan’s childhood growing up in New York City—He and his friends used to cut school to go down to 42nd Street, which they called Forty Deuce, to check out the famous burlesque houses. One of the most unique features about Ivan’s clubs is that they are custom built specifically around Ivan’s vision for his burlesque shows. The Easton setup includes a rotating stage for the house band and DJ, a zipline and bridges to platforms across the venue to bring dancers into the crowd.
A Taste of the Menu
The inspiration behind Forty Deuce’s menu stems from the traditional burger joints in New York where Kane hung out at. “Most of our burgers definitely have a flavor profile that you’ve never tasted before on a burger,” said Kane. To develop the full burger-centric menu, Kane worked with Iron Chef Winner Neal Fraser, an old friend.
The experience is not limited to the club … the café is quite an experience as well! The kitchen at Easton’s Forty Deuce is led by Rock ‘n Roll chef Elliot Bender. Bender says the burgers are magnificent, made with a blend of chuck, brisket, sirloin, and short rib. There are 12 different burger options on the menu that includes Forty Deuce’s signature burger ‘The Deuce, ’ with a red wine reduction and foie gras.
Ivan shared with us that he wanted the items on his menu to be dramatic. When customers order shakes, they are paraded down the middle of the room—providing an overall theatrical experience. The towering “Skyscraper” shakes are topped with everything from a slice of cake, sprinkles, cookies, candy, ice cream and many more delicious treats!
Special Features
Looking to celebrate a bachelorette party or birthday party? Look no further than Forty Deuce because on Saturday afternoons they offer burlesque lessons taught by the actual dancers!
The shows are non-ticketed so all you have to do is line up, pay a minimal cover and get ready to experience a vibe you won’t get anywhere else! Another option for the club is to be treated like a rock star by getting VIP table service.
Forty Deuce is now open Monday through Thursday between 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Have you experienced the magic of Forty Deuce? Tell us about it in the comments below!
