A green door to the basement of a building in downtown Newton welcomes visitors to a new speakeasy bar. Jeff and Laurie Roberts are the owners of Discretion Underground, a new venue in the basement of the building at 118 N. College Ave. The couple, who also own Of Great Taste Café at the Hickory Furniture Mart, said they wanted to bring a unique option to Newton.
Upscale vibe in Newton
“We wanted something in Newton that is a very low-key, more upscale vibe,” Laurie Roberts said. “We wanted a comfortable place for people to come and have a conversation.”
Laurie and Jeff Roberts sit on a vintage couch at Discretion Underground. The couple said friends helped them find furniture and decorate the space.
Discretion Underground is designed as a modern take on the Prohibition-era bars of the 1920s and early 1930s. “When we go out of town, we try to find a speakeasy,” Laurie Roberts said. “I knew what I had in my head for one to look like. Some of the ones I’ve been to I feel like lacked a little something. I wanted to capture a better atmosphere.” Jeff and Laurie Roberts said they drew inspiration from their travels in the design of Discretion Underground.
People are also reading…
The couple took over the space in May 2024 and went to work with building owner Patrick Sterchi.
Footrail at bar created from leftover metal pipe
The couple used what the space gave them, incorporating an old boiler into the aesthetic, using leftover metal pipe to create a footrail at the bar and building the bar around a metal support pole. They used ceiling tiles from the upper level of the building to decorate the ceiling. They painted the exterior door green as an homage to Prohibition-era speakeasies.
Jeff and Laurie Roberts stand outside the green exterior entrance to Discretion Underground. Discretion Underground is located in the basement of the building at 118 N. College Ave. in Newton.
After entering through the green door, another wooden door awaits visitors. Here, visitors can either knock for entry or enter a passcode if they have a membership.
Memberships start at $30 for a 30-day pass. Yearly memberships are $200 and lifetime memberships are $500. Jeff Roberts said only lifetime members will be allowed to make a reservation.
Roberts said during the opening weeks, customers can come in without a membership. He eventually plans to move to a membership-based business model.
After entering the bar, jazz music will greet visitors in the cozy space. Leather barstools line the handmade bar. Throughout the rest of the space, couches and small tables create an intimate setting for singles, couples or small groups to enjoy an evening.
Seating for 49
Despite having seating for 49 people, Jeff Roberts said the goal of the bar is for people to appreciate time with friends or quiet time alone. “We’re not trying to serve them and get them out the door,” Jeff Roberts said. “We’re trying to serve them and let them enjoy.”
Discretion’s menu includes a list of cocktails. Customers can learn about their drinks before ordering them as Laurie and Jeff Roberts have included historical anecdotes for drinks like the old-fashioned, the millionaire cocktail and the Roosevelt martini.
Jeff Roberts holds up a cocktail shaker behind the bar at Discretion Underground. The bar features many varieties of bourbon as well as other liquors, wine and some beers.
The speakeasy bar offers bourbon and liquor drinks, six to eight beers and North Carolina-based wine. Discretion will also offer mocktails, non-alcoholic cocktails.
‘Newton is really growing’
“We wanted to be different,” Laurie Roberts said. “Newton is really growing. We’re getting the arts studio, the streetscape. We’re getting some more restaurants. This type of place was not here.”
“We’re not trying to compete against what’s already here,” Jeff Roberts said. “We want to encourage people to visit those places and feel welcome here.”
Discretion Underground, as of March 7, is open seven days per week. The speakeasy is open 5 p.m. until midnight Monday through Saturday and 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday. To learn more about Discretion Underground, visit the bar’s page.
