Lion’s Den co-owner Gregg Fornario is expecting to attract a lion’s share of new customers when his retooled Hockessin sports bar reopens as a martini and wine bar next week.
The bar will be renamed Myst and cater to people seeking an upscale establishment offering the kind of food, drinks and entertainment found in a big city lounge, Fornario said.
Myst will specialize in martinis with creative garnishes, like marshmallows, Hershey kisses and slices of honeydew melon, putting a modern spin on a classic drink, he said. The bar will also feature a respectable array of wines, said Fornario.
The menu has been completely revamped for an upscale palate, Fornario said, featuring plenty of fancier fare like tapas, open-faced crab melt sandwiches and filet mignon. The fare may be upscale, but the prices remain moderate: entrees start at $12, sandwiches are $6 - $9 and appetizers are $5 - $8.
Nightly entertainment will include Bobby Smith on Tuesdays, who plays piano classics, pasta and Sinatra night on Wednesdays and lounge music on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, he said.
Workers have been remodeling the bar’s interior since the Lion’s Den closed three weeks ago, adding carpet to the floors, new furniture and bar stools, a new bar, lighting and a fish tank, he said.
Despite its new look, the bar will still serve as an NFL hot spot and its 10 plasma TVs will be tuned to NFL Sunday Ticket every Sunday, Fornario said, but now, game-time beverages will be classy, including mimosas and a Bloody Mary bar.
“We wanted to do a more upscale venture in an upscale town,” Fornario said. “This fits the Hockessin and Pike Creek clientele perfectly.”
Myst will be holding a grand opening celebration on Sept. 4 through 6 and the bar will be open from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Mondays through Fridays, noon to 1 a.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Sundays.
The adjacent Zoo Lounge, also owned by Fornario and his partners, will not be affected by the renovations.
