A western-themed bar and barbecue joint poised to host nationally touring musicians is scheduled to open in the Hilltop area of Parker this spring.

The Wild Goose Saloon will open in April, owner Dale Trujillo said Dec. 4. Trujillo, who also owns Blu Note Bar & Grill, envisions the bar to compete with music venues throughout Denver.

Trujillo refutes any comparisons of his new restaurant to the Grizzly Rose. However, the veteran restaurateur wants the Wild Goose to compete regionally to book popular rock and country bands touring through town. He even has his own mechanical bull.

The Wild Goose will have a bigger kitchen than the Blu Note and will serve mostly barbecue dishes.

Construction began at the project site, at 11132 and 11160 S Pikes Peak Drive, Dec. 7.

The Wild Goose Saloon will open one-half mile north of Trujillo's original Parker endeavor, the Blu Note, which opened in 2019.

The Wild Goose Saloon will have a plethora of entertainment options. The restaurant will have 10 TVs: six at 72 inches, three at 120 inches and one 192 inches wide. Plans also call for two stages, two dance floors, fire pits, a covered outdoor patio, a corn hole area, a volleyball court, a Spikeball area and Jenga. 

Trujillo is using a meat smoker he bought for the Wild Goose to add smoked brisket and turkey to the menu. Trujillo said when Wild Goose opens, they will need to find ways to differentiate the two menus.

Before the initial shutdown orders in March, Trujillo saw his two new restaurants filling a void in Parker's nightlife scene. He wanted to make Blu Note a place for people to enjoy fancy cocktails and listen to live jazz while taking in the dim, cool atmosphere of the bar. Trujillo avoided the words “bar” or “restaurant” to describe the Blu Note when it first opened, instead insisting “lounge” was a better description. When the pandemic struck, Trujillo had to improvise in order to keep his business afloat—and more importantly keep his employees on the payroll.

“It sucks for my employees,” Trujillo said. “I care about these kids. I always have and I do and I embrace them as — maybe 'family' is a strong word, but it's kind of like that."

Trujillo has stayed busy through the pandemic, revising the Blu Note's to-go menu and squaring away the restaurant's outdoor patio. The Blu Note opened in the Hilltop neighborhood in 2019 as a jazz and blues lounge. Trujillo is determined to keep the initial theme of the restaurant, focusing on drinks, music and atmosphere.

“I want people to think of us today how they think of us a year from now,” he said.

For more information on the Wild Goose Saloon, visit its Facebook page.