Photo by Dan Boshart Bar manager Mallory Parent waits for customers to head to Windsor’s new rock club The Cherry Rock Lounge. She also bartends, handles social media and books entertainment, among other tasks.
Windsor has a new live music venue located in a well-known downtown location and it has all the ingredients for success. The Cherry Rock Lounge, or just “The Cherry” for short, is located on the upper level of 63 Pitt Street East, the site of the former Dean Martini’s and Insomnia Café and Lounge.
Owner Mark Cichonski said of his decision to open a rock bar downtown, “All the potential in downtown Windsor, I feel it’s finally on the way back up. The location is great, we have a wonderful view, and it was just finding the right venue to have smaller bands come in and put on a show. I think probably three-quarters of the bands we bring in are going to be local and if we can get a couple of national acts the first year that’s a great way to start.”
The interior of the venue has a very intense red and black colour scheme that gives the space a powerful hard-rock energy. There is a large bar in the rear center area along with a black and red pool table to match the décor and a small arcade area in the back corner. “A lot of it was just lipstick and makeup. We had to rebuild the stage and the VIP section. The bar was already there, we just had to refinish it.
There are three restaurants located below the bar. Panache, La Guardia, and On a Roll Sushi, and not too far away is Eastwood’s Grill and Lounge. “On a Roll likes to sell their food up here when they’re full so if there’s no seating room downstairs, you’re more than welcome to come up and have a drink and have some sushi up here. We’ve also got an Eastwoods menu here if anyone wants something from there, we’ll run it over.” There is a small outdoor deck area and BBQ and Cichonski says he plans to offer something such as gourmet hotdogs on occasion.
Working the bar most afternoons will be a familiar face. Former 89X radio DJ and local icon Greg Gnyp brings his big personality and love of bartending, music, and anything else he can do to support Windsor’s downtown and the local music scene.
Chris MacLean and Tall Paul are currently playing acoustic shows during the week. Tuesdays at 10:00 pm is “Cherry-E-Oke”, and the official grand opening takes place this Saturday, June 22 with Rock n Roll Hijinx from the band First Fall.
