New (old) saloon is open now and Billy’s Burgers is soon to come!
The Virginian Saloon may have just undergone a serious facelift, but its history lives on in the details. The iconic Jackson dive reopened in September after some big updates to the saloon and patio, celebrating its rich history along with a brand new cocktail menu, redesigned lounge and courtyard access.
The saloon is broken up into a few separate seating areas: bar seating and a cozy lounge that surrounds a roaring fireplace, a private room for events and parties, and tables and benches for the area that will eventually become Billy’s Burgers. The renovated bar features original, reclaimed wood throughout, with fun retro accents that keep with the saloon’s personality and history.
Erika Dahlby, director of experiences and marketing at the Virginian, says that when redesigning the space, they dug deep into the Virginian’s history so they could tease out elements from the past. “A lot of people remember the Virginian as it was in the 2000s, but that’s not our whole legacy,” she says. “It wasn’t always Jackson’s dive. It used to be the Virginian Saloon and Disco, with disco music six nights a week in the 70s and 80s.”
It also used to be a quiet, cozy cocktail lounge, so they’ve brought back the bar’s original slogan, “A quiet place to relax with your friends,” as a good humored nod to the debaucherous vibe the saloon has more recently cultivated. The goal with the update is to bridge the gap between a late-night good time and an approachable place for locals and visitors alike to grab a drink, with a creative cocktail menu, sloshies from JH Stillworks, a long list of local beers, and of course: a beer and a shot special from 4 to 7 p.m.
Glass-paned windows open up to the patio, where firepits and igloos will be set up in the winter for aprés hangouts. During the warmer months, tables and lawn games open up the space to accommodate groups of all sizes.
Despite the cozy, updated furniture and creative cocktail menu, Dahlby says they’ve worked hard to keep the bar laidback and inviting for everyone. “You can still get a $4 PBR tall boy,” she says. “And we’re of course still having karaoke on Wednesdays.”
Karaoke Wednesday will start up again this winter, along with disco night on Thursday, and a rotating mix of live music over the weekends.
Father John Misty is playing on Saturday, October 15th to celebrate the new opening (tickets available here), and Dahlby says they’re looking forward to building out a lineup of shows and entertainment going forward. “We’re trying to bring in all the different pieces to make this a really fun space for the community,” she says.
