New bar and grill moving into former Richland sports bar location

The location of the defunct Jack-sons Sports Bar in Richland will live again, though with a new feel and an old name.

New owners are renovating the building at the corner of George Washington Way and Lee Boulevard in Richland. When it opens in mid- to late July, it will be called Gaslight Bar & Grill, a reference back to one of the restaurants that used to be there before Jack-sons called it home.

The building is being refinished, said general manager Travis Summers. The wall that once separated the two main dining areas is being removed to give the restaurant a more open feel. Gaslight will offer an upscale dining experience with steaks, burgers and salads, he added, but sports will remain a key part of its personality: 44 TVs, a few larger than 42 inches, will be installed throughout the space.

It won’t be a family-friendly venue any longer, though. Gaslight will be strictly for those 21 and older, Summers said. The game room will keep its pool table, but the kids’ arcade games that accompanied it will be replaced by those more suited to adults.

For those worried about the fate of the historic back bar, which originally came from a Montana brothel: It is being saved and will have a new home at the front of the restaurant, Summers said.

Other new restaurants in the Tri-Cities:

Owners Porter and Kate Kinney started offering their Southern-style barbecue while primarily serving customers in the parking lot at nearby John Dam Plaza beginning in late 2014. The couple were particularly known for their brisket, ribs and pulled pork.

The restaurant is running a promotion where customers can enter a drawing to win free barbecue for a year, with people asked to “like” the restaurant’s Facebook page and submit their name every time they eat at the restaurant until July 11.

This story was originally published June 24, 2015 at 4:31 PM with the headline "New bar and grill moving into former Richland sports bar location."