From left: Dan and Mary Sharayko, Lori Kelly and Richard Kirchner
Celebrating a grand opening with East Mesa locals couldn’t have gotten any better at Lily’s on Main, a new establishment serving gourmet sliders and craft cocktails, and featuring pool tables and dartboards, as well as fabulous entertainment, live music and a disc jockey for some late-night dancing.
“We had a very good first impression,” said Richard Kirchner, an East Mesa resident who is retired from the Air Force and was anxiously awaiting the opening of the new establishment.
“Lily’s has good deals, and gives us discounts,” Richard continued, referring to the military discounts offered at Lily’s on Main. “The service is friendly and Brian, the manager, is very nice.” Richard also contends the place has the cleanest bathrooms.
“So, that’s why we’re here,” he smiled. Richard was sharing time with his longtime friends, Lori Kelly and Dan and Mary Sharayko.
The brainchild of Mike Aiton, a military veteran, Lily’s on Main is a bar and restaurant located just east of Power Road on Main Street. The fun begins at 3 p.m. seven days a week. Mike also operates
Echo 5, a restaurant and bar, in The Village at Las Sendas.
“I believed there needed to be more late night venues and entertainment past 9 or 10,” said Mike, as he described what Lily’s on Main has to offer. “We created an area catering to the East Mesa dance life, complete with Vegas-style booths and top-of-the-line music with light systems and live DJ,” he said.
The restaurant and bar also has several entertainment options for family and friends to enjoy, including pool tables, dartboards and shuffleboard. The outdoor area includes a very large pet-friendly patio. “We wanted to have more than country in the East Valley,” said Mike. “Lily’s on Main is a classy place,” he emphasized.
“You need to come and visit us for our hand-crafted sliders, craft cocktail selection and play pool and darts until sun up,” Mike said. He also wanted residents to know transportation is easy and cheap, with Uber and Lyft drivers nearby for East Mesa residents. “Stay safe and stay local,” he commented.
Dan and Mary Sharayko couldn’t agree more.
“The first night I was here, a military gentleman bought me a drink,” laughed Mary, who was pleased Lily’s on Main is veteran friendly. “An incentive for us to come here,” she emphasized, as her husband, Dan, served in the military.
Dan said the couple was pleasantly surprised when visiting the establishment. “We met Brian, who is a former Marine, and I just retired from the Air Force,” he explained. “When I got to the bar and looked around, I felt safe,” he continued.
The rustic-style bar, with brick trim, features several happy hour specials, including $5 domestic 32-ounce pitchers, $3 well drinks and wines, as well as $2 sliders. “We focus on unique and local sliders,” Mike said, as he described the delectable Southwestern crab cakes and green chile pork sliders.
Lily’s on Main is a great place to host parties and make new friends. “You can make friends real quick, and the food is really good,” Mary said
Lori agreed with her girlfriend. “If I came here with my two daughters, they would stay and party.” Her daughters are 29 and 35 years old, and her son is 28. “Everybody is personable,” she added.
After all was said and done, Mike was asked, “Why the name Lily’s on Main?”
“My first daughter is named Lily,” he said. “We want to create places with the names or references to our family.” Echo 5, Mike further explained, refers to his military service to our country.
As we celebrate Veterans Day this November and honor our soldiers and those who served, Lily’s on Main invites you to visit.
Lily’s on Main is located at 7000 E. Main St. For more information, call (480) 924-6514, or visit the website at lilysmesa.com, or Facebook at lilysonmainmesa.
The establishment is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 3 p.m. to midnight, and Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.