Metro Vancouver entrepreneur Kelsie Exley loves celebrating the “basic” things in life.
“I’m a proud Taylor Swift fan, dog mom to two doodles, and reality TV enthusiast,” Exley told Daily Hive in an interview. “I’ve never been someone who stays in the same lane for too long; I love challenging myself and exploring new opportunities.”
The Maple Ridge-born content creator and professional dancer is hard at work adding another job title to her resume — restaurateur. She’s invited her hundreds of thousands of social media followers to join her on the journey to opening Metro Vancouver’s first pop culture bar.
@sociallykels (aka langley😉) #womenownedbusiness #womenentrepreneur #basicbitch #popculture #forgirls ♬ original sound – kelsie rae
“A little over a year ago, after moving to Langley, I decided it was time to switch gears and bring a long-time dream to life, which is how Basic began to take shape. It’s been an exciting new chapter.”
Exley’s plan to open a “sports bar for the basic b*tches of Vancouver” stemmed from her love of watching reality TV, award shows, red carpets, or anything pop culture-related.
“I’ve always found myself watching at home,” the freelance social media manager explained. “Either texting my sisters and girlfriends nonstop the entire time or hosting small watch parties. But it always felt like something bigger was missing.
“I love the energy of a sports bar and the sense of community, excitement, and the fun of watching something you love with others. Of course the food and drinks as well! That got me thinking: why doesn’t this kind of space exist for the ‘basic’ crowd?”
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The Vancouver Warriors dancer shared that she has been called “basic” more times than she can remember.
“It was always meant as an insult, and it always felt very misogynistic to me,” Exley said. “You don’t see men who love beer, sports, and cars being called ‘basic,’ so why is it a bad thing to embrace what you love, especially when so many people enjoy it too? I’ve always been unapologetically proud of my passions and loud about celebrating the so-called ‘basic’ things in life.
“Is cheering for the Eras Tour, debating award show fashion, or crying over a reality TV finale really all that different from sports? Personally, I don’t think so! That’s where the idea for Basic came to life.”
Exley is searching for the perfect location for Basic, which she hopes will be in her current home of Langley. She is also actively looking for investors in the Pop Culture Bar and plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign to involve her followers and fans so that they can be part of building the dream.
Kelsie Exley
“I think pop culture bars should exist everywhere, honestly. I would love to see this idea become just as normalized as sports bars,” she added. “Think watch parties for all our favourite shows: Bravo, Netflix reality shows, The Bachelor/Bachelorette, award shows, you name it. We’ll also host game nights like trivia and bingo, as well as fun theme nights where we can dress up and dance to our favourite music.
“Beyond the entertainment, we’re putting just as much effort into our food and drink menu. Expect amazing cocktails/mocktails, and dishes that will make the whole experience top-notch. Taking ‘girl dinner’ to the next level. It’s gonna be never a dull moment, that’s for sure.”
Being able to share her entrepreneurial ventures and her life with her 425,000 followers comes naturally to Exley. And she thanks them for inspiring her to keep reaching for her dreams.
“When I decided to actually go through with my idea for Basic, my first instinct was to share it with my audience because I wanted them to feel like they were part of it. The feedback I’ve received so far has been amazing, and I’ve even incorporated some of it into the business plan. Their input is so valuable to me because these are our future customers. I want Basic to feel like a space made by them, for them.
“I’m a firm believer that with hard work, a willingness to learn, and a little courage to take risks, you can do anything. I don’t think there’s a ‘right’ way to build something great.”
Those wanting to learn more about Basic and Exley’s journey are invited to follow her social media channels.