Saksey’s, a new throwback-inspired lounge from NoHo Hospitality Group and the Gilbert family, has opened in the lower level of Gilly’s Clubhouse at 1550 Woodward Ave.
Nestled off Parker’s Alley in downtown Detroit — the entrance to Saksey’s can be accessed from the alley — the new establishment marks the latest collaboration between NoHo Hospitality Group partners Luke Ostrom and Josh Pickard.
The pair has developed such concepts as San Morello, Evening Bar, the Brakeman, and Penny Red’s at the Shinola Hotel in downtown Detroit, along with Gilly’s Clubhouse. The latter location, a sports bar, was a concept by Nick Gilbert, Dan’s son, who passed away in 2023.
With Saksey’s, the team brought “New York polish and perspective to a project deeply rooted in Detroit’s sense of community and craft.”
“The story behind Saksey’s has real Detroit roots,” says Ostrom, a partner at NoHo Hospitality Group. “The original, Detroit-based Saksey’s, owned by Sam Gilbert (Dan Gilbert’s father), was the kind of neighborhood tavern everyone wished was on their corner.”
The original venue was located near Seven Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, and was called Saksey’s Lounge and Restaurant. It was run by Sam Gilbert and Irv Saks.
Designed by Daniel Caudill of DTM Consulting, the new Saksey’s décor includes dark cherry wood paneling, a brass back bar, and deep green velvet banquettes, offset by custom mahogany tables and vintage lounge pieces from the 1960s and 1970s.
Saksey’s cocktail program is led by NoHo Bar Director Darryl Chan (The Portrait Bar, Café Carmellini, and Westlight) in collaboration with Head Bartender Tara Wong.
Together, the pair created such offerings as the Dirty Snow Cone, a frosty grown-up nod to summer nostalgia; the Root Beer Negroni, a spirited twist on a childhood classic; and the bar’s signature Teeny ’Tinis, small but expressive martinis.
“Detroit has this special mix of grit and grace that immediately resonated with me,” says Chan. “At Saksey’s, we’re channeling that spirit through cocktails that nod to classic recipes but bend the rules. We’re exploring nostalgic flavors and unique presentations throughout this menu concept, with each drink requiring serious technique, yet paired with a sense of play.”
The culinary menu includes such selections as Caviar & Bugles, the Bar Burger, and Cornflake Chicken with Dynamo Sauce, alongside Pretzel Tots and a Cap’n Crunch Berry Sundae, among other offerings.
Saksey’s is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Reservations can be made on Resy, and walk-ins are encouraged.
For more information, visit sakseysdetroit.com.
