By Crystal Harrell
In Yucca Valley, the new music venue and restaurant Mojave Gold is a love letter to the desert. Launched by husband-and-wife duo Cooper Gillespie and Greg Gordon, alongside hospitality partners Dale and Brookelyn Fox, the space has quickly become a cultural anchor in the High Desert.
“Greg got a call from a friend saying someone needed help bringing this building back to life. I was out of town and said, ‘Absolutely not.’ I had just slowed down in my life, and I know what it takes to open a venue. It takes a lot! But then I walked into the space, and the vision hit me like lightning. I thought, ‘Crap, we’re doing this,’” shared Gillespie.
The lease was signed in March. Mojave Gold opened its doors on May 31. The name itself is an homage to desert mystique and a glam riff on the Mojave Green rattlesnake, capturing the spirit of the venue.
With a vibe Gillespie describes as “Gram Parsons meets Studio 54 in the Mojave,” Mojave Gold is where retro rock’n’roll fantasy meets culinary sophistication. The decor blends nostalgia with shine, with additions like golden snake wallpaper, ambient lighting, embossed touches.
The kitchen is led by Chef Beren Ekine-Huett, formerly of Workshop Kitchen + Bar. Ekine-Huett’s menu showcases new California cuisine through a desert lens, using local ingredients like citrus, mesquite, dates, and native herbs. One standout dish is the cactus ceviche — a refreshing nod to place and season, served with the kind of creative finesse that makes each bite unforgettable.
“Music is one of the three pillars of what we do. Greg and I are in a band called LANDROID. Our chef is a drummer. Brookelyn worked in studios for years. Music is part of our DNA,” said Gillespie.
With longtime indie talent buyer Liz Garo curating shows, the venue balances nationally touring acts with emerging local artists. Mojave Gold’s summer lineup is packed with eclectic offerings, from the goth glam of Luna Negra (featuring Blood Nebraska on July 12) to the ABBA-themed dance party Gimme Gimme Disco (July 19) and Rode Hard Country Dance Night (July 26).
On July 27, Los Yesterdays will bring retro soul and garage grooves, and Dead Rock West hits the stage on August 14, delivering soulful Americana harmonies.
Mojave Gold also collaborates with local vendors, distillers, and artists, from Rancho de la Luna Mezcal (a feature in the signature Mojave Gold cocktail) to Joshua Tree Distilling and neighborhood design shops in an effort to create a space that reflects the desert.
“We hear it every day. ‘Thank you. We needed this.’ There are people who eat here daily. It’s become a gathering space,” revealed Gillespie.
Mojave Gold is launching a new lunch sandwich service, offering quick, quality bites with the same flair. While the venue is not rushing expansion, the team is open to new ideas that cater to more experiences and music.
“We’re growing with intention. This place started as a dream. Now it’s become something bigger than we imagined — a place where people come to be fed, moved, and connected,” shared Gillespie.
Follow Mojave Gold on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads @mojavegolddesert.
