DETROIT – A new cocktail lounge honoring a Detroit institution is opening in downtown. Saksey’s — first announced in February 2024 — will debut Friday in the basement of 1550 Woodward Ave., the same building that houses Gilly’s Clubhouse and Rooftop, a project tied to the Gilbert family.
The concept is a collaboration between New York’s NoHo Hospitality Group and members of the Gilbert family. NoHo partners Luke Ostrom and Josh Pickard, who also operate Detroit spots including San Morello, Evening Bar and Gilly’s, are behind the new venue.
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The name pays homage to Saksey’s Lounge and Restaurant, a neighborhood tavern Sam Gilbert ran with Irv Saks in the 1970s.
“The story behind Saksey’s has real Detroit roots,” says Ostrom. “The original, Detroit-based Saksey’s, owned by Sam Gilbert (Dan Gilbert’s father) was the kind of neighborhood tavern everyone wished was on their corner… easygoing, full of heart, and built on genuine connection. When we started shaping this new bar, we wanted to honor that spirit while making it entirely our own. It’s not about recreating the past; it’s about carrying its energy forward, the sense of belonging, the humor, the craft, and letting it live in a new way.”
The interior leans into a vintage-meets-modern look, with dark cherry wood paneling, a brass back bar, deep green velvet banquettes, mahogany tables and authentic lounge pieces sourced from the 1960s and ’70s.
The cocktail list includes playful signatures like the Dirty Snow Cone and Root Beer Negroni, along with Saksey’s Teeny ‘Tinis — miniature martinis served in tiny glasses. The menu focuses on shareable bar fare such as Caviar & Bugles, the Bar Burger, Cornflake Chicken with Dynamo Sauce, Pretzel Tots and a Cap’n Crunch Berry Sundae.
Saksey’s will open evenings 5 p.m. to midnight Tuesday through Thursday, and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.