Golfer getting ready to swing his club in the golf simulator at Five Iron. © Luciano Calvosa, 2026
In the heart of downtown Syracuse, the lights inside the Redhouse Arts Center have long signaled a night of theater, music and community gathering.
Now, the arts venue has a new neighbor.
The entertainment venue Five Iron Golf recently opened along South Salina Street, steps away from Redhouse and the restaurants and bars in Armory Square.
Founded in 2004, the Redhouse began as a small theater company with a mission to provide professional live performances while supporting arts education in Central New York. Over time, the arts center expanded its programming to include musicals, plays, concerts and youth education initiatives.
TRANSCRIPT:
LUCIANO CALVOSA: Tonight, downtown Syracuse will transform after breaking ground last September. This downtown location full of energy and history is now bringing a fresh experience to Syracuse. Five iron golf right at the heart of the city. Owner Chas Rogan says they chose this spot because of the downtown energy.
CHAS ROGAN: Kind of fell in love with the downtown corridor here. Here on Salina Street, we’re real close to Armory Square next to Smother and Nightlife entertainment.So we thought this fit right in nice, perfectly.
CALVOSA: This five story venue just steps away from the city’s core, blends a rich past with a new era, golf, entertainment and a welcoming community space. Now, with this Five Iron golf being the first one in upstate New York and being right outside the vicinity of the Red House Art Center, Rogan and his crew definitely want to hold on to the rich history of the Syracuse community.
ROGAN: It’s really neat to be next to a lot of arts and culture as neighbors. And I think it’s just a really nice fit because people can come in here before and after shows. Um, and we can show them another piece of culture.
CALVOSA: Five Iron Golf is here to build on Syracuse’s love for sports, creating a new space where the (1:18) community spirit can grow.
ROGAN: Just the sports, the sports culture really does lend itself to what we are in terms of our culture and what we have to deliver here.
CALVOSA: In Syracuse, Luciano Calvosa, NCC News.
The theater originally operated out of a converted industrial space before moving into its current downtown location in 2017. The new facility features a main stage theater, rehearsal rooms and classrooms designed to support both professional productions and community programming.
Since relocating downtown, the Redhouse has become a major destination for performing arts in the city. Thousands of visitors attend performances each year, helping strengthen Syracuse’s cultural district and drawing crowds to nearby businesses.
That presence has helped shape the character of South Salina Street and surrounding neighborhoods, where arts, dining and entertainment often intersect.
Chas Rogan, owner of Five Iron Golf, said the theater’s presence was one of the factors that attracted the company to the area.
“It’s really neat to be next to a lot of arts and culture as neighbors,” Rogan said. “People can come here before or after shows and experience another piece of what downtown Syracuse has to offer.”
Customers enjoying some food while playing golf in the simulators at Five Iron. © Luciano Calvosa, 2026
For more than two decades, the Redhouse Arts Center has served as a hub for creativity, education and performance in Central New York.
Dennis Johnson, a Syracuse native, mentions how a new sense of life is added to nightlife style in downtown Syracuse with the addition of Five Iron.
“Being from Syracuse, it’s great to see the city continue to grow,” Johnson said.”Five Iron adds a new layer to the nightlife here — it’s not just about going out, it’s about having an experience.”