The exterior of Sawyers in downtown Harrisburg
Sawyers recently changed hands, and now the details are out.
As you may have heard, the downtown mainstay has a new owner, and he’s planning big changes for the popular nightlife venue.
Starting this spring, Justin Browning, who also owns JB Lovedraft’s Micro Pub, is revamping the 2nd Street club with a synthy ’80s Miami/South Beach vibe, featuring an updated drink menu and quick-serve bites.
More importantly, Browning said that the music will be at the forefront of entertainment at the space.
“We’re updating the music—that was the first big ask from everyone,” he said. “The logo has been the same for quite a long time,” as he turned his phone to show me the new look. “We’re keeping the name but changing the style of it.”
The new Sawyers logo
Folks can still expect to dance with the talents of DJs filling the space, but Browning wants to bring back monthly musicians to the club, too.
“That’ll be more early evening,” he said, mentioning that he plans to start with tribute acts first, “to help with early dinner hours” for guests dining outdoors at Cafe Fresco and Stock’s on 2nd as well.
“The diner hasn’t had food for at least 10 to 15 years,” Browning said, referencing the diner car on site at Sawyers, which will now offer items like tacos and nachos. “They briefly had hot dogs when The Spot closed, but it’s been a long time.”
The bar’s soft opening will be April 3, with plans for a grand opening weekend on April 4 and 5.
“Our goal is to bring entertainment to 2nd Street,” Browning said.
He added that he really wants to rejuvenate “Restaurant Row” and nicknamed his efforts the “Restaurant Row Reboot.”
“This used to be the heart of the city,” Browning said. “We’re planning to give it our best to bring it back.”
He added that Judd Goodman, owner of the former Federal Taphouse, and longtime Harrisburg club owner Ron Kamionka have been encouraging and helpful to him throughout this process.
Browning, who also owns Nocturnal Nightclub, recently acquired the former Federal Taphouse building at 234 N. 2nd St. but declined to elaborate more on plans for the space at this time.
“I hope that what we’re doing encourages more people to come back and open new things, and hopefully we can get back to that status of ‘Restaurant Row,’” Browning said. “I think the city is on the brink of a new fruitful era. Things are blossoming. I know everything looks like gloom and doom right now, but it’s really not. We definitely wouldn’t have invested so heavily if we didn’t feel like something was capable.”
Sawyers is located at 210 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg. For updates, visit their Instagram page here and their Facebook page here.
If you like what we do, please support our work. Become a Friend of TheBurg!
