More Delays for the Return of the Bunkhouse Saloon

The former Bunkhouse Saloon, now shortened to The Bunkhouse, won't re-open this year. Planning commission approval has been delayed by the tavern's owners until a December meeting. The dive bar predates the recent gentrification of the neighborhood and featured a vibrant live music schedule, but current planning documents avoid all mention of live music.

The Bunkhouse was bought by Zappo's CEO Tony Hsieh's Downtown Project for $1.4 million in January under the guise of a company named 124 11th Street LLC. Upgrades include extending the rear of the existing tavern structure by 608 square feet and remodeling an 879-square-foot annex at the rear of the property. Other reported ambitions not mentioned in current documents include converting parking lot buildings into artist work spaces. The site still has a license to operate 15 slot machines grandfathered into the property.

A more dramatic makeover will be given to the forthcoming adjacent property, The Wheelhouse, complete with a proposed but contentious 90-foot-tall electricity-generating windmill powering its own 6,300-square-foot performance venue.

In September, Downtown Project announced The Bunkhouse would be open by the end of November after missing a 60-day completion date first promised on July 1. Roof renovations were cited for that earlier delay.
· All Coverage of Bunkhouse Saloon [~ELV~]
· All Coverage of Downtown Project [~ELV~]
· All Coverage of The Wheelhouse [~ELV~]