Octo Opens

The newest addition to Aro Valley’s village strip is Octo, a record store, café, Yakatori restaurant, and listening bar all rolled into one. 

Opened to the public on May 1, it has already gained support and what’s shaping up to be regular return customers in its first week. 

“Cool set-up is going to absolutely hum,” one five-star reviewer wrote. “Will be back,” and “would eat again,” said two others. 

The unique concept of a “listening bar” originated in 1950s Japan as a tearoom for people who couldn’t afford their own records, but still wanted to enjoy them. Rising in international popularity, the venues provide an alternative to clubs, with a focus on music and ambience rather than dancing. A collaboration between owners Benjamin James, Zuyi Woon, and Jeremy Hollis, Octo is being hailed as a Wellington first. 

“It’s about still being able to have a conversation with someone, and you might hear, you know, something you’re interested in,” James told Salient.

When asked whether Octo will be focusing on just jazz, like original ongaku kissaten, the response was “hell no!”

“I never want to pigeonhole the music that I listen to,” he said.

Many will recognise James from Herb’s Mobile Record Store, the converted blue truck-turned-vinyl-shop that has frequented Wellington city and suburbs since 2021. Now, Herb’s has found a bricks-and-mortar home as OctoHerb, selling from Octo’s back room.

As well as spinning vinyl from 10 a.m. Wednesday to Sunday, the bar will host DJs on Friday and Saturday nights, with no entry fee. The lineup for the rest of May includes Steve the Hat, GMajor, Webmaster, Vu, Takas, and booof. 

On the hospitality side of things, Zuyi Woon, co-owner of New Zealand’s only fully manual coffee bar Pour & Twist, has developed an enticing menu of Japanese-inspired snacks, including yakitori-style skewers, chicken karaage, and miso herb toasties. 

Bar food ranges from an affordable $6 to $16, while cocktails, wine, and beer come in at fairly standard pricing. Menus are printed on seven-inch vinyl records, a personalised, stylish touch. 

The bar itself has a cosy, intimate feel. Retro action figures and old working TV consoles decorate a dimly lit, dark wood interior that accommodates up to forty-five patrons.

Octo sits opposite AroVision, one of the city's two remaining video rental stores. Together, the venues contribute to Aro Street’s nostalgic evocation of days gone by. 

James said they chose the Valley because it’s affordable, it’s home, and he’s “kinda over Wellington city.” 

“The city has had its heyday and is going through this intermediary time where it needs to sort itself out a little bit, whether that’s council related or business,” he said. 

“They’ve been kicking really great things out.”

While feedback since the launch has been good, Octo has been two years in the making. 

The venue experienced building consent, liquor and licensing application delays, as well as some community pushback and what James described as a general adversary attitude from Wellington City Council, all of which made opening difficult. The project has been adapted from one with an outdoor area and later opening times to better suit these requirements, and locals are coming around to it. 

“A great addition to the Valley!” a passerby called out to me as I took the photos for this article. You heard it here first!

You can find the listening bar and record shop at 102 Aro Street, a thirteen-minute walk from Kelburn campus.