The upcoming Gilly’s Clubhouse and Rooftop in downtown Detroit, the sports bar that is the vision of Nick Gilbert, the son of Dan and Jennifer Gilbert who passed away from neurofibromatosis in May 2023, will be adding a cocktail lounge in the lower level.
Located at 1550 Woodward Ave., just south of the David Broderick Tower, Saksey’s, to be accessed from an alleyway, is named after the Detroit bar owned and operated by Dan Gilbert’s father in the 1970s. Gilly’s and Saksey’s are slated to open to the public in the spring.
Saksey’s is being designed by Jennifer Gilbert’s Detroit-based POPHOUSE. Features include lacquered woods, adventurous patterns, and refined lighting. The dining area and bar have eight tables and 55 seats.
“Saksey’s is designed to provide an experience that connects people,” says Josh Lang, founder of 7OH2 Hospitality and operator of Gilly’s and the cocktail lounge. “I want guests to come in, try a little of everything on the menu, sit back, and spend time with the people they love. Intimacy is a product of those you share it with. This room is built for intimate moments.”
The cocktail menu is created by award-winning Eric Hobbie, who was named Las Vegas’s Most Intriguing Mixologist in 2019 and has won multiple national cocktail competitions.
The food menu features sharable plates conceived by 7OH2 Executive Chef Adrian Estrada. Estrada has designed menus for multiple venues across the East Coast and Midwest. Estrada’s menu will be a celebration of Detroit’s rich heritage featuring light bites with a flair for the dramatic.
Saksey’s experience includes a unique, trend-setting tableside mixology service, presenting every patron with a front-row seat to Hobbie’s inspired beverage menu. Guests can choose from classic cocktails or something custom. Two featured offerings are High Class Gal and Smoke & Mirrors.
Live performances will be part of the mix, including up-close, creative, and niche entertainment. In addition to public hours, Saksey’s will be available for private rentals throughout the week.
Meanwhile, Gilly’s Clubhouse will consist of two floors. The street level features a patio along Woodward Avenue, an indoor café, and a lounge with a mezzanine to host private events and large parties. The main attraction is a 120-square-foot television wall visible from every seat.
The rooftop of the venue will offer a hacienda-inspired haven, offering a tequila tasting room and casual Mexican street classics, with taco service from an in-house, custom-built food truck. Designed with a “light industrial” rooftop enclosure boasting year-round views of the Detroit skyline.
McIntosh Poris Architects in Birmingham were the architects of the building renovation.
For more information, gillysdetroit.com.
