The Gathering Lounge has had its share of hard times to match the successes in its forty-plus years of existence. Opened in the 1970’s, the bar and lounge was a favorite local watering hole for decades before the newest owners entered the picture. When the current owners — Ann and her son Todd— bought the tiny pub nearly three years ago, the popularity of the Lounge had dwindled. The bar, tucked away beside a storefront building on Route 57 in Liverpool, needed more than just a structural rejuvenation.

The new owners began simply by renovating the tavern bathrooms, and then decided to add a kitchen to attract a lunch and dinner-time crowd. They eventually began to hold weekly summer barbecues featuring fresh food from the grill at low prices, accompanied by entertainment from local musicians. The selection of alcoholic beverages was also enhanced, with more liquor and bottled beer options, wine by the mini-bottle, and flavored malt beverages available. The owners vowed to maintain a loyal clientele by catering to the needs and requests of each and every patron. If a Gathering Lounge guest discovers that a favorite beer or liquor is not available, the owners will place an order to ensure that it is stocked for the patron’s next visit.

The Gathering Lounge has plenty to offer besides personalized service. The cozy pub has a large-screen television welcoming guests at the entrance, and five other smaller screens scattered throughout the building. The owners purchase NFL tickets and air all games but Todd claims that football is “not necessarily what this place is all about.” In fact, The Lounge isn’t really identifiable by any common bar theme. It is part sports bar, with paraphernalia from New York teams like the Yankees and the Giants decorating the walls. Todd, pointing to a wall hanging featuring the Dallas Cowboys logo, admits that he has been ribbed by customers about this ostensible support of a New York rival team. He shrugs it off with a smile, reflecting his own ambivalence.

The Gathering Lounge offers other forms of entertainment for its guests. It is a pool and game hall, sponsoring weekly matches for local dart and pool leagues. A Megatouch touchscreen entertainment system rests on the far end of the bar, beckoning guests with puzzle, word, and picture games that can be enjoyed by an individual or small group. The kitchen provides a pub atmosphere, complemented by affordable fried fare. Nothing on the menu costs more than seven dollars. The actual bar boasts a fiber optic lighting scheme reminiscent of a nightclub. Moreover, the place is spotless, unlike trendy chains with peanut shells strewn across dusty floors. The half-moon shaped bar occupies nearly half of the entire location, and the considerable counter space accommodates anyone who might not want to fight through a crowd to secure a barstool or purchase a drink.

It is safe to say that The Gathering Lounge has something to offer everyone who walks in the door. And though it’s difficult to assign the bar a particular label, this ambiguity has proven to be a blessing, rather than a curse. The crowd is generally the sort you might find in any neighborhood bar, drawing mostly patrons from the surrounding town of Liverpool. Lunchtime, dinnertime, and happy hour offer a more relaxed, quiet atmosphere, often drawing crowds of thirtysomethings and older. Happy hour specials include discounted bottles of domestic beer, served with a rotating menu of complimentary items such as soups, salads, chili, hamburgers and hotdogs.
Other drink specials include discounted beer buckets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The featured beers vary among Molson Canadian, Miller Lite, Coors Light, and Budweiser. Eleven bucks will buy a bucket filled with five ice-cold bottles.

During Saturdays afternoon barbecue events throughout the summer, different one-man-talent acts perform while food is served. Mark van Marter, a regular musical guest, specializes in blues and classic rock music. Younger crowds tend to arrive later at night, when the bar offers other musical incentives. Karaoke night is every Friday after 9 p.m., hosted by local talent D.J. Cody. When live entertainment is not available at the Lounge, the Touchtones jukebox located near the entrance offers a wide variety of music downloads for all tastes.
The effort to keep the location cozy and inviting extends throughout the cold winter months in Central New York. A stone fireplace, located in the center of the tavern, remains lit throughout the day and evening to keep the place “very toasty.”

The Gathering Lounge often welcomes guests whose patronage has extended over the last four decades, when the Lounge was under different ownership. The current owners are regularly praised for their transformation of the place. The current climate of friendliness and cleanliness appeal to those who, for one reason or another, stopped patronizing the location years ago. The newest owners, a quiet duo more interested in drawing attention to their Lounge than to themselves, are simply pleased to see the happy new faces. “People find their way back in,” says Todd, with a hint of modest pride. “[They] are impressed with the changes we’ve made.”