With more than 12,000 locations in the United States and overseas, American Legion posts offer retired or active duty military a dedicated space to drink, eat and be merry. But many such spots feature staid interiors of fluorescent lighting and cheap drop ceilings that hardly merit commendation.
Enter Son Lam, a 41-year-old retired U.S. Marine gunnery sergeant and graduate of the USC Marshall School of Business, who transformed a portion of Buena Park Post 354 into a hidden speakeasy worthy of a five-star rank.
“Veterans of my generation and younger see these buildings as being so outdated, so we’re discouraged from going inside,” said Lam, who served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Christened OpSek Post 354 (a riff of the term “OPSEC,” which is short for “operational security,” a commonly used term among military for hush-hush details), the new speakeasy isn’t recognizable from the street or sidewalk. No signage denotes its presence. And the stucco-walled, nondescript exterior of the building belies the chic vibe inside.
Guests at OpSek, which has its grand opening Saturday, May 25, enter through a side door just off the parking lot that leads into a dimly lit antechamber plastered with wallpaper featuring newspaper headlines of U.S. wars. A small circular table draped with a white tablecloth, candle, rose, salt, a slice of lemon and an empty chair is dedicated to prisoners of war/missing-in-action vets.
A pink neon sign reading “OpSek Post 354” adds a hint of color to the small room. And a door with a steel grill speculatorium, where guests make their presence known to the bartender on duty, isn’t really a door at all (shhh); just head to your right and you’ll find the real entrance hiding behind a framed painting of an AI amalgamation of generals James Mattis and Douglas MacArthur.
A warm and inviting co*cktail lounge greets guests once inside; a stark contrast to the humble beige-painted stucco and brick exterior outside. Chevron wood flooring, navy blue and brick walls, a future cigar lounge (only on certain nights) and a fireplace add to the space’s comfy vibe. Pressed tin with a botanical motif adorns the ceiling. And an expansive wooden bar shelved to the gills with bottles of rye, whiskey and bourbons (a handful of which come from veteran-owned distilleries) set the stage for the craft co*cktails being made behind the counter.
The inaugural drink menu includes such libations an old-fashioned, a Sazerac, a whiskey sour, the Berry’s Tramp Stamp (a bourbon and muddled-berry concoction named after Lam’s pal, Berry, whose lower back tattoo can be found framed in all of its glory just on the other side of the bar), a vodka mule, an espresso martini and more.
The interiors, designed by Lam, feature a slew of notable military ilk, past and present, on OpSek’s walls, like Harriet Tubman, who, in addition to being an abolitionist and activist, served as a nurse and Union spy during the Civil War; Chuck Norris, a member of the Air Force prior to his thespian turn in “Walker, Texas Ranger”; Elvis Presley; and Zack Brian, famed modern country music crooner who is also Lam’s favorite artist.
Lam used AI to create the many of the images, which he had professionally printed and framed for OpSek.
“The theme of this place is bridging the gap between history and modern times, so I use a lot of artificial intelligence that you’ll see in this establishment,” he said.
The idea of bringing the old and new generation of military takes a more literal turn at OpSek: Another hidden door disguised as a bookshelf leads to the American Legion Post’s main event space where, in yet another moment of high contrast, the well-worn and clearly aged space welcomes any service members who want to take a peek inside the new speakeasy.
Bringing together the younger and older generations by way of expertly mixed drinks and an admittedly stylish setting isn’t for nightlife vainglory — for Lam, it’s personal.
“What inspired to create this place is that, when I retired from the Marine Corps in 2016, since my last two deployments, at least 20 Marines that I personally know have died by suicide, or killed through substance abuse,” he explained.
Attributed, in part, to the strains and strife post-9/11 members experienced in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, suicide has increased in the Armed Forces. “An estimated 30,177 of those who served after the 9/11 terrorist attacks died by suicide, compared with 7,057 killed in war operations,” The New York Times reported in 2021.
In an effort to keep tabs on members, Lam started hosting events and gatherings for military folk who, like him, served in recent wars. In a time of increasing isolation, be it endless doom scrolling or the siren song of substances, the literally therapeutic benefits of connection stood out to the retired sergeant — and he wanted somewhere permanent to make this happen.
“I just wanted to find a place of common ground, something that wasn’t a fancy establishment,” said Lam, who, along with his wife, Erika, and his two children, live in Orange. “So then I came across the American Legion.” Chartered by Congress in 1919, the American Legion has offered a safe haven for veterans and their guests to break bread, have drinks and bond/commiserate with military kin.
Lam isn’t only talking about bonding over a few brews and a bowl of pretzels at the bar; he hopes to help his fellow military people learn about and sign up for the free benefits available to them.
“A lot of the guys who are depressed or whatnot have issues, which, I think, often revolve around money, resources and help,” he said. “I can speak for the Marines in saying that we are a very stubborn bunch and some of us will procrastinate about filing for disability.”
Relatable to anyone who has had to wade through the byzantine process of filing for assistance from the government. But according to Lam, it’s not as hard as it looks. Such help is readily available.
“We think of it as some kind of meticulous process, which it definitely can be, but it’s actually very easy to start,” said Lam about his recurring events that help vets sign up for the benefits they have earned. “The idea is that, on certain nights of the month, or once a quarter, we host veterans who have not filed yet. We provide them with coaches, and we say, ‘Hey, here’s a laptop, here’s a free drink and if you don’t know how to do it, I will sit here and help you do it with you.’”
Lam hopes that, young or old, people will be able to connect inside OpSek to bond, bridge generational gaps and connect to life-saving resources — be it human contact or getting mental assistance.
While the theme and setting are unimpeachably military, everyone is welcome here. Every branch. Every rank. Every age. And, yes, even civilians have a place at OpSek Post 354.
OpSek Post 354 will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 5 pm to 11pm.
Find it: 8071 Whitaker St., Buena Park
If you or someone you know is considering suicide or self-harm, mental health resources are available, including free and low-cost services. They include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
