The vibe is a mishmash of flea market and dive bar. Dim lighting emitted from chandeliers and neon signs. The steady thump of classic rock and the electronic bloops of classic arcade games. Bare brickwork and a vibrant mural. Bric-a-brac sprawling across surfaces. Vintage household appliances and furniture arranged as a throwback living room. And interspersed among the jumble are the many interpretations of the cerdo volador—the flying pig from the brewery logo.
Yes, Andes Brew Pub in Quito, Ecuador could fairly be described as kitsch. No, the Panasonic M3000 camcorder and the Super Dexta tractor grille and the Ecuatoriana Airlines trolley are not entirely cohesive. But there is something charming about the quirky decor. And there can be little doubt that the man behind it all has the heart and soul of a collector. “I try to add at least three things every week—even something as simple as a sticker,” he tells me as we slide into reminiscences of our dearly departed collections. Dum-Dum lollipop wrappers in all the assorted flavors. Masters of the Universe action figures deployed in epic battle. Vintage “Penthouse” covers earmarked to grace a music studio wall.
Ghosts of the past that all suffered the same fate, unsympathetically discarded by indifferent parents.
