Sage Grouse Lounge slated for June opening

When he’s not in the kitchen at Blackstock Bistro, owner Luke Martin said one of his favorite hobbies is going down a rabbit hole of possibilities when he sees a vacant building. If there’s an empty building in town — the Gunnisack, Miller Furniture and Taco Bell — chances are Martin has walked through them, created a concept and ran the numbers. He’s stepped away from a lot of his ideas, but this one felt right.

In June, Martin will open his second business in Gunnison, the Sage Grouse Lounge. With pool tables, a virtual golf stimulator (plans for future arcade games) and late hours, the sports bar is positioned to help revive the South Valley’s long-lost nightlife. It joins the relatively new Crested Bucha and the up-and-coming Whammy Bar on Main Street, and Paddle Out on North Boulevard.

The color scheme of the lounge is gold and forest green, and the name a nod to the history of the valley’s most well-known bird, the Gunnison sage-grouse. The bar will be open from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The grand opening is scheduled for June 14. Martin has plans to expand the hours once fall arrives and summer outdoor activities wind down.

“I’m excited for this place, and others, to hopefully bring some new and exciting things to Gunnison and liven up downtown,” Martin said.

The space, which has sat empty for years, is located next to Delektabowl on Georgia Avenue just a block from downtown. Martin said the building, a blank slate with concrete floors, was introduced to him in December 2024. A month later, he already had a concept. Construction began in March, and is set to wrap in the next couple of weeks.

The lounge will only offer drink service, oven-made pizza and bar snacks, rather than a full menu to keep it simple to start, Martin said. Guests will order from a cocktail list, similar to Blackstock, that will be served by an experienced team of bartenders.

On the south-facing patio, he envisions live music and cornhole tournaments on summer evenings. Inside, Martin said he hopes the high-top booths and large lounging area will become a favorite spot for sports fans to watch football and hockey playoffs on the two 75-inch TVs behind the bar.

For those less interested in sports and looking for a fun-filled night out, he is installing two free, full-sized pool tables. In a separate room, guests can test out their swing on the greens with a golf stimulator, similar to the Birdies Golf Bar in downtown Crested Butte. Martin said he plans to offer a “happy hour” rate over the summer from 3-6 p.m., and to host tournaments. This room is available to rent by the hour, and could also be used as a private movie theater. In the back, he said he may have space to eventually build out a small arcade.

Martin said he has spent nearly a decade collecting feedback from Blackstock diners about what they feel is missing from Gunnison’s social life. After their meal, many Blackstock guests have asked him where they can go next and it’s tough, he said. No businesses have been able to replace Timbers since it shut down in 2020, and many Gunnison restaurants close early, even on the weekends.

Some spots are hosting “open mic” nights and karaoke to cater to the late-night crowd, including Blackstock. Karaoke, which runs until 1 a.m. or so on Saturdays, was a “great test run,” for the lounge, Martin said.

With the Sage Grouse Lounge, Martin hopes to fill as many “voids” as possible in the community. Anticipation is mounting, and his recent post on social media raked in more than 13,000 views.

“People have said there's nothing to do, especially in the winter,” he said. “I’m trying to create a space that is fun and energetic … I want to bring back some excitement.”

(Bella Biondini can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or bella@gunnisontimes.com.)