Feb. 28, 2023

The owners of a new bar coming to downtown Sioux Falls hope to offer something they say is missing there: “a vintage brew pub with a neighborly feel.”

The Orion Pub will open in late spring or early summer at 127 W. 10th St. It most recently was home to Bonus Round Downtown.

It’s a partnership between Thomas Hentges, a local musician and the former manager at Miner Brewing Co., and Jon Oppold, the owner of Sunny’s Pizzeria.

“We want people to feel like they’re stepping back in time a bit when they walk into our place,” Hentges said in a news release. “Our goal is for The Orion to be a place where everyone is welcome and the place feels comfortable and familiar. A place where people leave divisive issues at the door and just enjoy each other’s company. An old-school neighborhood pub.”

In the news release, they noted that upscale drinking and dining establishments have “exploded in downtown Sioux Falls, but as the masses zig, many of us are tempted to zag and find a relaxed, unassuming atmosphere where we can sit down over beers with a friend and be ourselves. A neighborhood pub that makes us feel like we’re stepping back to simpler times as we belly up to the bar and enjoy a nostalgic pint of something classic.”

Hentges and Oppold plan to give the space a vintage atmosphere, including an old-school jukebox. The beer selection will include vintage brands such as Pabst Blue Ribbon, Grain Belt, Coors Banquet, Hamm’s and Miller High Life regularly on tap, along with a selection of local tap beers, bottles, cans and South Dakota wine.

The Orion will offer a small selection of Sunny’s pizzas and typical pub fare like pickled meats, pub mix and other assorted snacks.

It will offer live music occasionally, Oppold said.

“Ever since I opened Sunny’s, I’ve opined that Sioux Falls needs more neighborhood restaurants and bars,” he said. “Other comparable cities have tons of locally owned neighborhood spots, and they really bring people together. They just have a different atmosphere that’s hard to describe, but they serve as a gathering place, and many of them rely on groups of regular customers, and that makes it fun and lets you get to know people on a personal level. Sunny’s has kind of taken on that feel, and I really look forward to bringing that downtown with The Orion Pub.”

The small space – it holds no more than 49 people, Oppold said – will help create that feel.

The Orion Pub is named after Orion, a hunter in Greek mythology and one of the most recognizable constellations in the night’s sky.

Hentges and Oppold take possession of the space Wednesday and will begin transforming the space.

They have created a Founders Club crowdfunding opportunity to help with costs. Supporters will get lifetime discounts, a spot on the wall of fame in the bar, exclusive merchandise and more. For information or to join The Orion Pub Founders’ Club, visit orionpub.com or email [email protected].