This popular Phoenix R&B and blues bar is reopening soon. Here's what we know

When David Cameron and his business partner bought Char's Has the Blues, the Melrose district nightclub that went on the market in 2020 after 35 years of hosting a variety of R&B, blues, soul and funk acts, he was hoping to preserve a bit of that tradition.

But he also hopes to add some new traditions to the mix.

As the club reopens next month, one major change will be the name.

The 2,245-square-foot building north of Indian School Road on Seventh Avenue will reopen as Chars LIVE on Friday, Feb. 4, with a performance by Soul Power.

The first week will honor the tradition of what regulars came to expect from the club, with shows by Big Pete Pierson, Nolaz, the Kendall Lee Gilder Band, Kenny Brown Trio, Garrison Jones Trio and Laydee Jai.

Cameron also renovated the property.

In an interview with The Arizona Republic last May, Cameron talked about his renovation plans.

"We purchased the property next door, a little yellow, nondescript house that has a weird-looking neon sign in front," he said.

"So we are expanding the general concept of Char's with an outdoor patio space that connects the two buildings, transforming what Char's used to be into a different and more modern kind of entertainment experience — a food and beverage concept with a bar and live music."

What's new at the former Char's Has the Blues

In a recent interview with Phoenix New Times, Cameron said the patio space and outdoor food service area behind the main building is still under construction and will open later this year.

He also told New Times the 150-person venue will feature a VIP room, revamped seating, a new 10-foot by 13-foot stage to the left of where musicians used to play, a new sound system and a green room for performers.

As to what that food and beverage concept might entail, Cameron said he's been leaning toward casual pizza with coffee and small breakfast options in the mornings.

"We like pizza because it serves late," Cameron said. "And I've been working in that neighborhood for two years every day. I have my office there. And I can't find a really good pizza spot. So I think pizza would be well-received in that little pocket."

He's hoping the addition of an outdoor patio will add to the appeal, creating the kind of vibe he enjoys at the Thunderbird Lounge, another Melrose district spot.

"Imagine an urban garden with string lights and just a very cool ambiance," he said.

Changing the name to Char's LIVE

Cameron told The Republic in May 2021 that he and San Diego-based real estate broker Peter Valleau, with whom he purchased the property in November 2020, planned to modify the name "because it won't just be a rhythm & blues club anymore."

Char's was frequently voted Best Blues Bar in Phoenix New Times' Best of Phoenix issue, most recently in 2019.

Last May he said, "We believe we're gonna work with the previous talent and get them locked into some good nights."

But the ultimate goal is to open it up a bit and "bring a different kind of flavor to the property, which we hope will become a little more eclectic," Cameron said.

"I can see having really cool reggae and ska concerts there, all kinds of genres of music. I just don't see how it can remain what it was and remain a profitable business that can contribute to the neighborhood's success and community growth and development. That's the challenge."

However, in his recent interview with New Times, Cameron seemed to indicate that former patrons had convinced him to preserve a little more of that tradition.

“People have come up and talked to me about (the bar), sharing these visceral experiences of this place are so intense and burned into their memories,” he told New Times. “I hope and think we'll be able to deliver something similar to what was there and embrace its legacy.”

Cameron paid a few visits to Char's Has the Blues before it closed in March of 2020 when COVID-19 shut down all the clubs in town.

"I really liked the vibe," he said. "I liked what it was."

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Despite renovations, the character will remain

He and his partner have completely renovated the interior while preserving as much of its character as possible.

"The plumbing and electrical have been sort of a challenge, to be honest," Cameron said. "That's what's been taking so long. We're at the very tail end of our mechanicals and plumbing."

He would've liked to have preserved more of that character, but plumbing issues and the overall condition of the property made it hard to salvage everything he liked about the place.

"The character and history of the building is really important," Cameron said.

"I'm very big on trying to keep as much as we can. If you look at my track history in town here, I'm not the guy that knocks it down and builds it new. I try to fix it up and make it nice and modern, but keep as much of the integrity of the property because I really like old properties. I like the way they look, especially in this town."

Cameron and his partner kept the parquet dance floor but the New Times story states they have removed the banquette booths that surround the dance floor

One thing that won't change, Cameron said, is the exterior of the property.

"We understand that the integrity of the outside is very important to the community," he said. "We want to keep these little cool historic properties, inject a different kind of business opportunity into them and we feel confident that we can contribute in a positive way to the community."

The history of Char's Has the Blues

The property was built in 1944. At the time, it was a house. In the early '60s, it was turned into a ballet studio, which it remained through 1981, when it was turned into a bar.

It's been Char's Has the Blues since 1985.

"But it was an old ballerina studio," Cameron said. "So that dance floor is actually a floor from when these kids learned ballet in the '60s and '70s."

Cameron said he's hoping to have music in that outdoor area in addition to the original 150-capacity venue.

"We know we can do live music until 10:30 at night at a certain decibel reading," Cameron said.

"So we hope that we can activate a small outdoor patio that can potentially do maybe even brunches and things that happen during the day instead of just being a nighttime-only venue.

Reopening as Char's LIVE

Cameron had hoped to reopen the club in September.

"The only reason that would get pushed is if COVID has an impact on community response to outdoor dining and entertainment and we thought that it would just make sense to wait it out," he said in May.

"We originally had planned for a year of construction. So we're excited that we're ahead of schedule right now."

This is Cameron's first foray into the entertainment business.

"I hired a really great team to put together a really good boots-on-the-ground group to run this place," he said.

"I'm not gonna be the guy that runs it. I have way too many things going on. But we're excited about the opportunity to own a business and just make it thrive. Hopefully, people come listen to music and enjoy themselves the way they did before."

The fact that he's a major music fan just makes it that much more exciting for Cameron.

"I just feel like we can build something really cool from what they had at this long-standing music tradition in a small space and energize that by adding this exterior patio and this giant wraparound add-on space," he said.

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix nightclub Char's Has the Blues will reopen as Char's Live