In February of last year, Rolling Stone minted Eugene as one of the top ten campus music scenes in the country, thanks in part to the town’s long tradition of homespun clubs and venues. With the opening of Indigo District, a new night spot just off campus, that prestigious list just got a little larger.
On the corner of Oak Street and East 13th Avenue, Indigo District owner Justin Gibbs is preparing for the location’s official opening on Halloween. The building had previously been occupied by Fields Brewery.
“We’ve had a lot of people come in already and tell us that we should decorate more,” he said. “They don’t realize the grand opening is on the 31st.”
Gibbs said Indigo District isn’t just a bar or a concert venue. The space is multi-functional, serving as a coffee shop, bistro, café, bar and performance space, all within the same four walls.
“It’s not just a one-trick pony — you can come in any time of day and this place should suit your needs,”
he said.
The bistro features light menu items and full meals, with soups, salads and vegetarian options. The café serves organic espresso and coffee from Café Mam. Although the menu is small, it will expand as time goes on.
Indigo District will also host bands and performances in a back room that is being specially constructed with soundproofing at a breakneck pace.
While such business combinations aren’t uncommon in a town that has a Laundromat that offers tanning and café services, Gibbs said Indigo District breaks with convention by attempting to bring big city nightlife to a college town.
“We’re putting the emphasis on bringing Eugene up to speed, making the scene comparable to big cities and (acceptable) to an urban crowd,” Gibbs said.
At 23, Gibbs doesn’t fit the stereotype of a typical night club/bar owner. He is soft-spoken with shaggy brown hair, and has a taste for rock n’ roll-style clothing. He said he felt apprehensive about the publicity his new business has garnered and expressed worry that Indigo District will become known as a novelty of his age, rather than for the venue’s merit as a serious business.
Gibbs — a relative newcomer to Eugene — said opening Indigo District has been a been a dream come true. Last year, he moved from Long Beach, Calif., where he had previously been involved in curating local music shows. He currently studies music technology at the University and said the local attitude agrees more with him
“I feel much more comfortable in Eugene, it’s way more laid-back,” Gibbs said.
Indigo District’s dining room looks like an overgrown living room — there are palm trees, a waterfall, ferns, avocado green couches and overstuffed armchairs. Next to the front counter, an alcove holds turntables and chairs. Gibbs said as owner, one of his favorite duties has been decorating the restaurant.
“The theme is a mix between exotic and natural, kind of a mix, like rain forest meets thrift store,” Gibbs said.
Michael Parich, a University student and occasional performer at John Henry’s, attended the Sept. 22 opening of the bar.
“It was cool,” he said. “They seem to have collected the coolest elements from other bars in Eugene and fused them into something new.”
As far as the location’s future success, Gibbs is optimistic.
“I’d like to see it deeply entrenched in the community, making (Eugene) a place where people want to stay, instead of moving off to Portland or Seattle,” he said.