Photo by Carla Merrill

Head Bartender Brian Thompson pours shots at The Lounge.

Benji’s, the bar in the Best Western on South College, recently had a makeover and is now called The Lounge.

Head Bartender Brian Thompson said that the bar is attempting to get a fresh start and bring in a new crowd. He said that they are hoping to make The Lounge a place for local musicians to network.

“We’re trying to make it a local musical oasis,” Thompson said. “We want local and visiting musicians alike to come here, meet other musicians and jam out.”

The Lounge is donating several nights a week for musicians to come, set up equipment and jam, and will offer recording equipment. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, The Lounge will host a Musicians Open Jam. Tuesdays and Thursdays, musicians can set up equipment and jam out, while Wednesdays are acoustic only.

Monday nights The Lounge will host Open Mic Night and the band Brothers Groove will perform every Friday night.
Happy Hour at The Lounge will be Monday through Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. and will include $1 off liquor (with the exception of premiums), and shot specials. The bar offers $5 pitchers, $2 domestic longnecks and $3 32 oz. draft all the time and offers $6 Jager Bombs all night on Friday.