Rookies is the New Kid on the Block

Benicia's newest bar, Rookies, opened Thursday night to a full house. Rob Storelee opened the bar where Choices once stood. The project has been in the works since February 15.

Storelee, originally from Fresno, grew up the Bay Area and moved to Benicia in 1981. He owns , which his son operates. He also owns , housed  above the bar.

This is his first venture into the hospitality industry. “I like to keep busy,” he says. “I just thought Benicia needed something like this.” Storelee says he plans for his 22-year-old daughter to run the bar eventually.

Rookies is loaded with big-screen televisions with sports of all kinds, so some might say it's a sports bar. Storelee says the bar's demographic target is 21 to 71. Although Thursday night's packed house opening was a mix of ages, it leaned toward the 20-to-30 something crowd. Rookie's is strictly a bar now but Storelee says he wants to open a kitchen by the end of the year that will serve barbecue. 

The bar has 15 employees, whom Storelee calls "a great crew.” The bar's hours range from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m., depending on the day of the week, with longer hours on the weekend.