Del Ray’s ski lodge is closing after this Saturday night, and its owner says he’ll be throwing a party like snowbody’s business.
Aspen on the Avenue popup bar owner Bill Blackburn of the Homegrown Restaurant Group says that Saturday night will be the last chance for customers to enjoy delicacies like the ski lemon meringuetini.
“We’re going to spend the next three weeks transforming the popup into its next model,” Blackburn said. “We’re planning to open on May 1.”
The popup is located between HRG’s other Del Ray restaurants, Pork Barrel BBQ and Holy Cow. It was previously The Sushi Bar for eight years before closing at the end of 2021. Since then, the space has changed concepts as a popup every few months.
Blackburn and his partner “Mango” Mike Anderson went to extreme lengths with Aspen on the Avenue, lining the interior walls of the popup with used skis, installing a fake fireplace and two giant backlit photos of idyllic snowy scenes. Anderson also bought a two-seat gondola and parked it outside the restaurant.
Blackburn and Anderson are selling the skis for $25 to $200 per pair.
Blackburn said that the concept for the next popup is tightly under wraps and will be announced in the coming weeks.
