Bully's launches first upmarket lounge in south Reno location

No, Paul Sonner says, the new Timberline Lounge in south Reno isn't intended to be the first outpost of another chain of restaurants.

But then again, the president of Bully's Sports Bar & Grill says he didn't have any ideas of launching a seven-restaurant chain when he opened the first location of the sports bar 11 years ago.

The Timberline Lounge at 18150 Wedge Parkway marks the Renobased company's first foray into a format that's more upscale than the beer, burgers and big screens of Bully's.

The dinner menu served Tuesday through Sunday features items such as New York steak with peppercorn sauce, sauteed calamari and chicken picata.

During lunch, the restaurant serves the traditional Bully's menu.

The interior designed by Cynthia Kenney of Reno's CLK Designs Inc.

features a river rock fireplace, Tahoe-style furniture and antique maps and photos.

The Timberline Lounge occupies about 3,000 square feet that Bully's previously had devoted to one of its Slice of Bully's stores.

While the pizza restaurant was successful, Sonner says Bully's saw an opportunity to move upmarket.

"There's not much else out there," he says.

Unlike the seven Bully's locations, which are open 24/7, Timberline Lounge is open from 11 a.m.

to 11 p.m.

Sunday through Thursdays and 11 a.m.

to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

Sonner rolls out the new format at the same time that he's getting serious about a franchise program for Bully's.

The company has sold franchises in Fernley and Winnemucca, and Sonner is entertaining proposals on other locations in northern Nevada.

Why not simply own the additional locations himself? With seven restaurants with more than 300 employees running around the clock, not to mention the Timberline Lounge, Sonner figures he has his hands full already.