New Speakeasy to Open in North Scottsdale

To honor the legacy of local hospitality and restaurant icon Paul Keeler, who passed in 2021 from complications of COVID 19, his family is opening Poppy’s Office in North Scottsdale at 34522 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste.160. The speakeasy will open this summer directly next door to Liberty Station, the sister restaurant which is part of Keeler Hospitality Group (which the family still runs).

Poppy’s Office will be a living memorial to Paul Keeler—the entry vestibule is literally a replica of his actual office complete with his desk, lamp, bookshelves, and memorabilia. Patrons will enter the speakeasy through a secret passageway.

Once inside, the 1,500-square-foot bar will feature rich fabrics, dark leather bar stools, and wood, as well as elements of copper, low lighting, and a lot of unique artwork and photos of the Keeler family. Two “family booths” will seat large parties and curtains can be drawn around them for privacy. The design firm partnering on this project is Type-X Design Studio.

“North Scottsdale doesn’t have a speakeasy—we are delighted to open in this part of town. These residents deserve the same type of amazing cocktails and experiences as other parts of the Valley offer. We will continue to innovate in this area—we love playing in the sandbox with our neighbors,” says Keeler Hospitality Group Chief Executive Officer Matt Keeler.

Poppy’s Office will also be replete with “Poppyisms,” or sayings that the elder Keeler was famous for espousing at any given moment. These sayings will be placed around the speakeasy and serve as another reminder of the impact Keeler had on his community.

Poppy’s office will be open daily for happy hour and close around 10 p.m. (later on weekends). A rotating selection of “Poppy’s Tacos” will be offered daily and customers can also order food to-go from Liberty Station.

Keeler Hospitality Group’s director of beverage, Adam Downey will create an elevated cocktail menu to include a margarita prepared tableside with freshly squeezed juices, a smoked old-fashioned, and other innovative libations. A full wine and beer menu will also be available.

A month after his father’s passing, the idea for Poppy’s Office came to Matt in a dream.

“I woke up, called my family, and said, ‘we have to do this,’ and they agreed,” he says.

 Courtesy Poppy’s Office

 Courtesy Poppy’s Office