It’s not often I head this far west but always on the lookout for a good cocktail lounge, I made the trip to Westwood Plaza after learning of Vive le Rock Lounge and Record Store.

A descendant of Drastic Plastic, a popular record store in the Old Market, the cocktail lounge opened in 2025 as Vive le Rock, a French expression for “long live rock!” Despite sitting in a nondescript West O strip mall, I found it to be one of the unique spots in town.

Walking in, it’s easy to forget that you’re in a strip mall. While there’s an abundance of visual stimulation, the place is chill and dimly lit with red and green lights reflecting downward from a black ceiling. The bar, of course, is the centerpiece and behind it are shelves packed with memorabilia and rock figures from KISS and Ozzy Osbourne staring back at you. The rock theme extends throughout, with concert posters, framed album covers, and gold records lining the walls.

Near the entrance is a leather sofa displaying the flag of the United Kingdom in front of a fireplace which has a stained-glass Ozzy portrait above it. It doesn’t stop there as it has a monster guitarist overlooking the area next to small guitars from a variety of musicians on display in a glass case. Near the back is a small record store that provides an opportunity to thumb through its collection and perhaps pick up some new vinyl. Seating consists of old-school barrel chairs around small, rounded lounge tables with vinyl records under glass.

The bartender promptly noticed me and delivered a menu and took my order a few minutes later after I perused the massive drink menu that includes a selection of wine, beer, seltzers and THC-infused drinks, boozy milkshakes, mocktails, and a variety of cocktails. It also offers a selection of small bites if you’re hungry though I didn’t get a look at the menu.

My tastes lean toward bourbon, which led me to three cocktails over the course of the night as I caught up with a friend I started with the Enter Sandman, a heavy metal Old Fashioned made with Metallica’s Blackened Cask-Strength Bourbon, which was my introduction to the fact that Metallica has its own bourbon. Next was the Mike D, inspired by the Beastie Boys and made with Four Roses Small Batch, with ginger beer giving it a lighter appearance. I finished with the Cherry Bomb, a double cherry Old Fashioned combining Four Roses, a cherry-infused bourbon, and maraschino liqueur. All three were well made, but the Cherry Bomb was the most memorable. The Mike D was my least favorite, though that’s more a reflection of my own tastes than the drink itself.

For those keeping score, Drastic Plastic opened at 24th and N Streets in South Omaha in 1982 before relocating to 12th and Howard Street in the Old Market. Around the time the retail store closed in 2019, the owners opened the horror movie-themed Monster Club at 1217 Howard Street with the Drastic Plastic Vinyl Lounge upstairs before closing in 2023.

From there, they headed west and opened in Westwood Plaza, a shopping center with some history of its own. It was built in 1962, designed by Sidney H. Morris and Associates of Chicago for Seldin Investment Company, which had been developing the Westwood community since 1958. A popular movie theater operated in the shopping center from 1989 until 2022. It opened as Super Saver Cinema 8 before it was sold and renamed Westwood Cinema.

Vive le Rock sits in the northwest corner of the shopping center. It is located at 12411 W. Center Road. Given that it’s a strip mall, there’s plenty of parking. Upon writing this, it is open from 3 to 10 pm on Tues-Thu; 3 to midnight on Fri-Sat. It is closed on Sun and Mon. Happy hours are from 3 to 6 pm Tue-Sat and 10 pm to close Fri-Sat. Its website at https://vivelerocklounge.com/ contains upcoming events including yacht rock, soul train, metal, post-punk, goth and industrial, Seattle grunge, and glam rock 70s.

I enjoyed the atmosphere and drinks. My only complaint is that I would have preferred the music to be a bit louder. If you’re looking for a great cocktail or something a bit different, I think you’ll be delighted with Vive le Rock. It’s a place that would totally fit into Blackstone or the Old Market.

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