Revealed: Alice Springs’ iconic Bojangles Saloon set for major revamp after closing during 2020 pandemic

AN iconic Territory hotel is set to be given a new lease of life and become a ‘lifestyle museum pub’ it was closed down a year ago

Iconic Alice Springs bar, Bojangles, will reopen under new management in 2021.

ALICE Springs’ iconic outback pub Bojangles Saloon is set to become a “lifestyle museum pub” with owners of popular Todd Mall cafe, Piccolos, set to give new life to the popular watering hole.

Bojangles, once popular for attracting huge numbers of visitors and locals, has been closed since March last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The new leaseholders have promised to return 80 Todd Street to “the good old days” once the doors at are reopened.

Piccolos co-owner Pearl Randhay said she had big plans to “change the place upside down” over the next few months.

Alice Springs iconic watering hole, Bojangles, will see its doors reopen this year.

Ms Randhay revealed a new European-inspired business model for the pub, which will be transformed into a “lifestyle museum pub” where diners can walk around and look at the historic merchandise as well as enjoy a top-notch hospitality experience.

The new model will involve Bojangles opening for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 6.30am to 2am, seven days a week.

“Breakfast will be under $20 and lunch and dinner will be an upscale à la carte menu with modern Australian food and will be a cross between a restaurant and a steak house,” Ms Randhay said.

“We will serve things like crocodile springs rolls, and a ‘Bojangles outback platter’ which will have emu, camel, kangaroo, and local Territory beef.

“It will be a family friendly pub.”

Bojangles Saloon, Alice Springs. (CREDIT Tourism Nt)

Ms Randhay said she wanted to see the business make a difference to the local scene and the struggling tourism industry.

“We are getting postcards made, we’re going to do a lot of merchandising.”

As it was before, the new managers will live stream Bojangles.

“In the new business model you’ll be able watch what’s happening and be able to buy beer for your friends who are at Bojangles from online - no matter where you are,” Ms Randhay said.

“We want to bring back the old days – live entertainment, a family-friendly pub which welcomes everybody and a safer place for people to go out and drink.

“It’s an icon that we can’t afford to lose. It’s got so much history. People who’ve run this place have put so much love into it.”

She said it’s hoped the pub will reopen in June.

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The new managers are in the process of applying for a new liqour lisence after the NT Liquor Commission this year cancelled the licence at Bojangles Saloon and Restaurant after it found the previous manager - Anthony Habib - was unfit to “hold the Bojangles licence, or indeed any liquor licence held under the Act.”

Long time building owner Lori Del Giacco said the downfall of the beloved establishment last year was a “tragedy”, but she is looking forward to the next chapter.

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She said since it’s beginning visitors have loved to have a look around and read about the history of the area and enjoyed looking around the walls, which “were full of historic merchandise”, while also having a dining experience.

Ms Del Giacco said if anyone has bought or come into possession of any historic merchandise from Bojangles Saloon, such as a locomotive model, to please get in touch. Those who return items will be compensated.