So by now you probably know Johnny Gibson’s Downtown Market and Independent Distillery will be opening in a couple months off of Arizona Avenue, breathing new life and plans for walkability into the area which functioned more as an alley in recent years. Both spaces will have joint use to a large patio area when they hope to open in April and a third space—a bar called HighWire Lounge—will share the patio as well.
Located at 14 South Arizona Avenue, if you choose to peek in now, you’ll see a lot of construction and some exposed brick walls. However, part-owner and bartender Jacob Hise is looking to change that in the next two months, transforming the space into an upscale “subtle vintage circus” themed bar with approximately 20 spots at the bar, 20 in the lounge and 40 out on the patio, according to Hise. Local art will be displayed “like a gallery space” on the walls, as well as a six-foot Margaret Joplin sculpture on the patio.
As a former mixologist for Lodge on the Desert, Hise is looking to bring a premium concept to Tucson that it hasn’t had before. For him, that means a molecular gastronomy take to cocktails using spirit brands folks know and love in conjunction with some small batch, micro-distilled liquor to expand people’s horizons.
“We want to go craft on the cocktails and not craft on the liquor,” he says.
While much of the cocktail menu is being kept under wraps, Hise is also looking to include two Pueblo Vida draft beers, six more craft brews, and four wines on tap. Although there are a number of great bars already in the area and the downtown’s first distillery going in right next door, Hise says he is happy to be surrounded by other great bars.
“It’s good to be around other spots—it’s why they put JC Penny’s next to Macy’s. It’s spacial economics,” he says. “It’s not going to be either or.”
As for the name, Hise says it’s in reference to the difficulty trying to secure a location, with the original space located off of Council Street near 6th Avenue falling through before they received the Gibson Court offer.
“It’s really been such a tightrope walk so it made sense,” Hise says.
You can stay in the loop with developments on the HighWire space by following the bar on Facebook.
This article appears in Jan 29 – Feb 4, 2015.
Hasn’t even been built yet and it already looks like it stinks of stale artisanal beer.
*spatial
This bar is going to be the newest thing since sliced bread! Downtown Tucson is expanding its horizons and High Wire is adding a fun flair. Can’t wait to see the drink menu!
Eh. I think we have reached a saturation point. We need more unique things downtown town. This place just looks like a different color of R Bar.
^ Unique huh? This place looks different than anything I’ve been to downtown. Give me vintage circus, local artists and fun drinks any day.
QueenBee, please point out everything in the rendering above that has the slightest hint of circus look or feel to it.
I guess high wires are at all types of events I.e. weddings, restaurants, parties.. Thats right, high wires are circus specific. Take your sardonic comments and kick rocks.
Party on!
Yuck! Another sploch on what downtown was, it disgusts me!!
For those of us who can handle our liquor and thoughts we welcome it! Good luck guys! Please have a bouncer to keep downers (like the “splotch” who posted above me) out!
Lol this place is short of a horror story, ordered a drink and it was disgusting told the bartender and within minutes my whole group was told to leave. Most had not even had a sip and we still had to pay for them. Wow, truly amazing, not only it reeks of stale beer but they are bullies.