Blinders will marry the energy of a sports bar, the aesthetic of a cocktail lounge and a touch of the Las Vegas sportsbook experience under one roof.

That 5,500-square-foot venue is under construction at 225 W. Tremont Ave. in South End. It’s near QC Pourhouse and globally influenced restaurant Para.

“There is an undeniable excitement in the area, and we wanted the sports lounge to be in the center of it all,” says Kush Anandani, director for OmShera Holdings, the project’s developer.

Blinders draws inspiration from sportsbooks in Vegas, where viewing and betting collide. It will deliver immersive viewing with an almost 60-foot-wide by 15-foot-tall, screen complete with a state-of-the-art audio system. It is investing $1.5 million into that 10,000-pound screen, which will sit 8 feet off the ground and be tilted 10 degrees toward the bar for premium viewing.

Charlotte-based OmShera believes Blinders will have the largest screen on the East Coast outside of a stadium or casino, Anandani says.

“The screen is sort of our show stopper here, but at the end of the day, the screen is very multipurpose,” he says.

It creates a dynamic viewing option for games, finales and movies for starters. The screen can display one or multiple games at once. It also can be used by a DJ on weekends or for presentations at private events.

Anandani says Blinders will blend the viewing experience with the energy of a sports bar — leaving behind sports memorabilia for a craft cocktail lounge vibe.

The design incorporates concave ceilings, textured wallpapers and pops of brass. There will be oversized light fixtures, with wall sconces adding to the ambience.

The 160-seat interior will have first-come, first-serve bar seating, which will be positioned lower for prime viewing. Soft seating includes banquettes for up to 18 patrons and other cozy options.

The 1,500-square-foot patio will accommodate 50. There will be multiple televisions to watch games outside.

OmShera has brought on a consultant to map out food offerings. It’s also developing its cocktail menu.

“We’re working through all of those questions right now as to what does Charlotte want to see,” Anandani says.

Anandani says OmShera was fortunate to secure the perfect location on Tremont Avenue. He says the potential for future development in the immediate area is a draw.

An OmShera-affiliated LLC purchased the 0.44-acre parcel, which included a 1950s manufacturing facility, on Tremont for $4 million in 2023.

“We tore that building down to the studs and we rehabbed the entire building from the ground up.”

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