Staff Photo Nick Brothers
Big Star Lounge, located at 208 N Block Ave. in Fayetteville, opened its doors May 17.
Earlier this month, Big Star Lounge opened its doors on Block Street in what used to be the old Beaver Electric building, and before that, a Ford dealership at 208 N Block Avenue.
The bar — while still in its beginning stages — has a high-end, low-key feeling to it that flirts between urban and small town. With enough time the place has potential to be the new neighborhood watering hole for the downtown Fayettevillians, and several plans are in the works to bring more elements to the bar.
“It’s more upscale than Kingfish,” said Archie Schaffer, owner of Big Star and co-owner of Kingfish and Flying Burrito Co. “But not to say Kingfish isn’t nice in its own way.”
Nathan Gage, Big Star’s general manager, said he’s going for a “Cheers” type atmosphere where people can come in and unwind. The wood bar installed by Latham’s Cabinets in Avoca looks great, with the back-line neatly showcasing an array of popular, exotic and locally made liquors. There’s a couple big TVs, several booths, and wooden tables and chairs in the main lounge that all sit underneath a shiny, star-studded tin ceiling. In the back, there’s a game room that has a half-sized shuffle board that involves bouncing the discs at an angle toward your opponent — who stands next to you.
What Big Star is really all about is Gage’s hand crafted $10 cocktails. The ingredients are all sourced fresh by Gage himself at local farmer markets and even from a mint and basil garden they have growing out back. The drinks are inspired by Fayetteville for Fayetteville, he said.
Gage plans to train the staff on a menu of 30 different cocktails he’s created and see how they do. Eventually, the plan is to incorporate a create-your-own cocktail option for patrons, where the best will be selected monthly and become a featured menu item. A daily happy hour runs from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. with $1 off beers and wells $2 off cocktails along with daily drink specials. The goal is to be the bar that opens first at 2 p.m. and closes last at 2 a.m., Gage said.
Staff Photo Nick Brothers
Nathan Gage, Big Star’s general manager, pours the Houston Nutt. Involving smashed pecans, the cocktails served at the bar include handpicked ingredients that are brought in fresh and locally.
As for now, the bar features a couple drinks named after infamous and famous Arkansans such as the Houston Nutt and the Johnny Cash, as well as a locally grown fruit spin on the whiskey smash, the Fayetteville Smash. The latter is delightfully refreshing, with bourbon middling out the sweet citrus fruit flavors.
Having tried the Houston Nutt myself, it was pretty damn delicious. The drink features crushed candied pecans, Luxardo Amaretto cherry, Little Rock’s own Brandon’s Gin and apricot nectar. The texture and scent of the pecans makes for a uniquely made drink you’d have trouble finding anywhere else, or as aptly titled.
“I put my personality in my drinks,” Gage said. “There’s only one of me running around town, and I want that one of a kind thing in my drinks.”
Along with the cocktails, there’s six beers on tap at $4, and a big selection of bottled craft and imports to choose from. A wine menu is on its way.
The parking lot next to the building has all-day free parking for its 10 spots, and after 6 p.m. on Block parking is free anyway. The bar is non-smoking, and dog-friendly — provided they’re kept on a leash.
“I keep telling people to keep coming back and watch our transformation,” Gage said.
Eventually, Schaffer and Gage hope to renovate the old dealership’s 4,000 square foot garage space that’s in the back into a live music venue. There’s also some ideas still being processed for unique patio designs out by the parking lot, as well as several ideas and events planned Gage didn’t want to spoil the fun on yet. If you fancy bar snacks, e.g. chips and salsa, that’s something the two plan on implementing sometime soon.
