Up a set of stairs off Broadway, just a block from the Town Square, a mini marquee marks the entrance to The Rose. The ambiance of the cocktail lounge is reminiscent of establishments in big cities like New York or San Francisco. But here in Jackson, it adds an irresistible energy to the local nightlife scene.
Earlier this year, a change of ownership saw Marc Canzoneri take the helm of The Rose. And how did he end up here? Upon moving to Jackson in 2018, Canzoneri’s first job was behind the bar of The Rose and he later went on to be the resident DJ. Originally from New York, he spent 12 years in San Diego, where he gained experience as a general manager and director of operations. “When I came to Jackson, I wanted to get back behind the bar because I’m a bartender by trade and that really is where I’m happiest—being in front of guests and creating cocktails.”
At The Rose, Canzoneri added entertainment manager to his list of roles. When he isn’t DJ-ing himself, he booked bands and other live entertainment for the venue adjacent the Pink Garter Theater. It was during that time that he started toying with the idea of having an ownership stake in the establishment. When the building changed to new ownership, it was made known to the purchasing partners the interest Canzoneri had in running the space. As a result, he bought the business.
Why make the move to ownership? My goal was always to own my own place, but it’s a very difficult business to break into. For me, it really came down to the right place, at the right time, and a bit of luck. I love entertaining—making great cocktails for people, seeing what they like, guiding their experience… I’m about hospitality first.
Why was The Rose an ideal opportunity for you? I fell in love with it. It revitalized my passion for bartending because I learned a lot of new techniques. The Rose is (or was) a Death & Co. affiliated bar. It was designed by Dave Kaplan and Alex Day—not necessarily all the design features and everything, but the actual bar, the training material, the cocktails, the original cocktail list, the artwork, everything is very Death and Co.-esque and I have a strong appreciation for the way they do things.
How would you describe the space? We wear two hats here at The Rose—by day we’re a high-end cocktail bar, and by night we’re Jackson’s premier nightlife destination. We’re not bluegrass and reclaimed wood… you could put The Rose in New York City, San Francisco, or L.A., and it would fit in just fine.
What does the future hold for The Rose? I’ve pretty much realized my vision for The Rose. If there’s anything I’d add, it would maybe be food. I shied away from food in the beginning just because it was a big undertaking to begin with, but I don’t want people to leave because they’re hungry. I’d like to do shared tapas for people to snack on while they’re drinking to complement the cocktail menu.
Tell us about the programming you’ve implemented at The Rose: I’m big on programming, so I do a program every night we’re open. Tuesdays it’s kind of soulful, lounging music, with $10 old fashioneds. Wednesdays are service industry night, so we do a beer and shot special for all the service industry workers in town. Thursday is Throwback Thursday—we do throwback music from the 90s and 2000s, but we’re toying around with some other throwback ideas. Friday and Saturday nights are club nights, and Sunday is Latin music night.
What’s the hidden gem patrons are missing? Six- to ten-o’clock is my favorite time at The Rose. It’s a time where you really can relax and enjoy the space. One of my passions is making great cocktails and we have great cocktails, so if twenty or thirty people come in during those earlier hours, have a great cocktail, and leave me a five star review because they had an amazing experience, then it’s all worth it to me.
Describe the bottle service experience at The Rose: After eleven o’clock at night, the booths are secured for bottle service. Visitors from New York, L.A., San Francisco, Chicago, Miami – they’re used to that – and The Rose is the only place in Jackson that offers that experience.
Why should visitors make sure they visit The Rose? Great cocktails, a great atmosphere and great service. That’s what I want to supply. There are the breweries in town, and the heavy hitters with their Western experience, but people come to The Rose when they’re done sitting on a saddle, drinking a beer and shot of whiskey, and they’re ready to have a nice cocktail in a cocktail lounge atmosphere.
