Sandbar Riverside Cafe opens in former Blue Rose space

Fans of the Blue Rose Cafe at 19th and Riverside may have wondered what happened to it.

The restaurant closed in March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to indoor dining. But when other restaurants reopened, the Blue Rose did not.

In the year since, the ownership group has changed, but a few people stayed on board and have opened a new restaurant in the shell of the Blue Rose.

“Things have changed a lot.” General Manager Jeff Gillen told KRMG. “For fans of the Blue Rose, you still have the patio views and all that you’re familiar with, but our management and our menu items are completely different.”

The first thing you’ll notice is the wall behind the bar has been taken out and replaced with windows, giving customers a better view of the Arkansas River.

Gillen describes the menu as elevated fast-service food, with staples like burgers, nachos and salads. He said Sandbar is family oriented and dog friendly.

The outdoor bar is still there, but they’ve added a service window between the inside and outside of the restaurant.

Customers can also hang out at the Yard Bar on the north side of the property. It has fire pits and other outdoor features for people to enjoy. The space can also be rented out for private events.