The Loft at Bruno's Bar and Grill

Joanne Guzman
Oct 29
3 min read

From “Um…What Is This Room?” To The Celebration Capital of Scotts Valley

If you’ve ever walked upstairs at Bruno’s and stepped into The Loft during a wedding, a comedy night, a baby shower, or a dance party so good your Apple Watch asked if you were okay — you know this room’s got range.

But it did not start out that way.

Back in 2017, The Loft banquet room had all the charm of a forgotten conference room at your dentist’s office.

Yellow and purple walls.

Drop ceilings straight out of a cubicle farm.

Harsh overhead “grandma lights.”

And banquet chairs that were so ugly and uncomfortable they looked like they were donated from a community center that closed in 1989.

(Seriously — the “good” chairs were green, plush, and belonged somewhere else entirely… like a cruise ship lounge on Deck 11.)

The stage? A little wooden platform in the corner, topped with garage carpet and hopes.

And because there was no wall dividing The Loft from the sports lounge, hosting an event meant shutting down the entire upstairs.

Guests were confused.

Regulars were annoyed.

And Jo & Ro were doing more explanation than celebration.

That’s when Jo had the idea that changed everything:

“We need a wall.”

James — the world’s most patient contractor — came in and built a gorgeous, seamless divider that looked like it had always belonged. He changed the whole trajectory of the business with one truly excellent piece of carpentry. (Thank you, James. For real.)

The Glow Up Era

Once the room had its own space?

It was go-time.

Jo reimagined The Loft as a blank canvas — neutral colors, clean lines, and enough flexibility that any event could feel like their dream version of the room.

But she also can’t resist a little glam.

So came the upgrades:

Neutral and warm paint to replace the circus of purples and yellows
Bold ceiling tiles for drama (the drop tiles had...seen things)
Chain chandeliers for sparkle that sets the perfect mood for any event
Golden Chiavari chairs (the room’s red-carpet moment)
A rebuilt stage — thanks to Ro and Bryce (“Bryce Bryce Baby”) so bands, comedians, drag queens, trivia hosts, and karaoke stars have a place to shine

Suddenly, The Loft wasn’t just a room — it was a vibe.

The Heart Of The Community

The Loft has hosted everything:

Weddings
Receptions
Baptisms
Baby showers
Rehearsal dinners
Reunions
Anniversaries
Engagement parties
Birthday blowouts
Corporate parties
Fundraisers
Dueling pianos
Drag shows
Trivia nights
Live bands
Karaoke
Comedy shows

And something even more meaningful:

Celebrations of Life — always free.

When Jo lost her mom and her nephew Davey, she learned firsthand the crushing mental load of planning a memorial. Where do you go? How much will it cost? Who can help?

So Jo and Ro decided, from day one, that anyone in the community who needed The Loft for a memorial could have it free of charge — room, tables, chairs, AV, the works.

No rental fees.

No minimums.

Just support.

Just kindness.

It’s not something they brag about — but it’s something they hope people know is available when they need comfort the most.