By Emilie St. John
INGLEWOOD – A new high-end restaurant, bar, and lounge with a private members-only area will open inside the campus of the Intuit Dome in early 2026.
“Lounge 1888 is a new era of elevated dining and crafted cocktails is coming to Inglewood,” said Dr. Marlo Richardson, the lounge’s spokesperson.
“Opening January 2026 inside the iconic Intuit Dome, Lounge 1888 will bring together the spirit of Los Angeles, the energy of game/concert night, and the sophistication of a premium dining and lounge experience,” according to Richardson.
The restaurant, lounge, and bar will be open to the public and can be accessed from Century Boulevard without the need for event tickets. Lounge 1888 will be situated near the entrance to the Intuit Dome.
“One of the partners, Earnest Ross, came to me while we were in the midst of putting together California Vintage in Anaheim. He asked my opinion on whether or not we should put a bid in for a restaurant opportunity at the Intuit Dome because the City of Inglewood was looking to work with local entrepreneurs and business people,” explained Richardson.
“I told him we absolutely should go for it. He began meeting with representatives from Intuit and the Clippers, who loved the concept we developed at California Vintage, but wanted something more full-scale and adaptable to all palettes with the addition of a full bar. Needless to say, the presentation was amazing.  So, this opportunity is truly based on the ability to produce a proven concept. The team behind Lounge 1888 has deep roots in Inglewood and in the restaurant, bar and lounge industries. We are happy to be here and grateful for the opportunity“.
In February, the Inglewood City Council approved the creation of the VIP lounge, which is the brainchild of Steve Ballmer. It will be co-located within the new eating area. The VIP lounge will allow after-hours service between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. after state law was passed authorizing it.
Inglewood Assemblywoman Tina McKinnor introduced Assembly Bill 3206, which was sponsored by the arena’s ownership, Murphy’s Bowl LLC.
AB 3206 limits the size of the private club, where the sales would occur, limits the number of customers allowed in the private club, and limits the days the venue can offer after-hours alcohol sales to mitigate public health and safety concerns.
The law further stipulates the sales must occur in a private area in the arena no larger than 2,500 square feet, must be available only to members of a private club, maximum capacity of 100 persons, restricted to patrons 21 years of age and older and must occur in the hours immediately following a day on which a sporting event, concert or other major event has occurred in the arena.
“The idea behind this club is that it is a state-of-the-art NBA arena, and the way it operates is very efficient, using facial ID, and we want to bring this type of exclusivity to the city of Inglewood, and we are taking this access very seriously,” said Gerard McCallum, during a public hearing.
The bill only applies to the Intuit Dome, which is scheduled to host the 2026 NBA All-Star Game and be a venue for the upcoming 2028 Olympics. The bill would sunset in 2030.
The VIP members-only area will not be open to the general public and will be available only to members on some event days.
Lounge 1888 is expected to open in January 2026 ahead of the 2026 NBA All-Star Game which is scheduled to take place at the Intuit Dome on Feb. 15.
Website: https://lounge1888.com/
Instagram: Lounge 1888
