Old Bunkhouse takes on dramatic new look under Downtown Project

The cement mixers, construction workers and metal works were in full throttle Friday at the old Bunkhouse Saloon on 11th Street in downtown Las Vegas, just off East Fremont Street.

It’s a dusty, noisy renovation site now, so it’s hard to believe the former tavern and music venue is scheduled to open at its one-third-of-an-acre site in less than two months.

But Downtown Project — Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s land redevelopment initiative — has Aug. 25 as the re-opening of the Bunkhouse Saloon, which dates to the 1950s. It’s part of Hsieh’s redevelopment march down the East Fremont corridor to Maryland Parkway, which includes Container Park, the old John E. Carson Hotel being converted into commercial space and The Market.

As part of the seven-figure project, Downtown Project bought the Bunkhouse from Charlie Fox for a reported $1.4 million last year. It closed the old bar a few months later to start gutting the saloon.

The business strategy is to have Indy Rock music acts perform at the Bunkhouse, which will serve as an anchor of a minimusic district that will also include The Wheelhouse, which is next door at the old Society Cleaners building at the 11th Street-East Fremont corner. Downtown Project owns the site and building of the former cleaners, but a separate party is developing The Wheelhouse.

At the Bunkhouse, Downtown Project is installing a top-of-the-line sound system, while rebuilding the stage and bar in their same spots in the tavern and adding a modern kitchen.

The Bunkhouse will also keep nine residential bungalow units on site to house musicians, said Mark Carlson, the Downtown Project staffer overseeing the building restoration. The housing will not open when the bar makes its rehab debut in August, he said.

Although the live music will continue and the bar’s famed deer head and other artifacts are returning, the menu is getting an overhaul with most foodie items less than $10 each.

The culinary highlights will be beef, pork, turkey and veggie Sloppy Joe sandwiches along with deep-fried pickles and deviled eggs, said Dan Adams, who handles food and beverage operations for Downtown Project.

Other changes include using a side door as the main entrance instead of the former main door on 11th Street; using an alley off East Fremont between 10th and 11th streets to direct customers to the Bunkhouse; and offering outdoor eating space for 150-200, with two food windows in a newly extended section of the building. Beer on draft and in cans will be served, including offerings from local Las Vegas brewers Big Dog, Banger Brewing, Joseph James and Tenaya Creek.

The asphalt lot will be replaced with a ground surface of decomposed granite in the backyard, and more trees will be planted.

Inside, there will be seating for 70 and another 22 seats at the bar, Carlson said.

Slot machines will be gone. “No mas,” Adams said.

And no smoking either.

“We want to focus on the guest experience, the service and the music,” Carlson said.

Downtown Project, a $350 million initiative that has invested in 117 businesses, also owns Ferguson’s Motel across East Fremont. That’s also being rehabbed by Downtown Project. Behind the Bunkhouse site is the old Western RV Lot, where Airstream trailers now sit.

Contact reporter Alan Snel at 702-387-5273 or asnel@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BicycleManSnel on Twitter.