When St Paul Music Club (SPMC) founder Rob Rule parted ways with The Turf Club a few years ago because of an ownership change, those who knew him figured he wouldn't be out of action for very long. And they were right. Rule's now the proud owner of the brand spanking new Bar Chord bar/restaurant/music club in Knapp, Wisconsin, about an hour east of Mpls -- a testament to Rob's perseverance and resourcefulness as well as his determination to get back into something he passionately believes in.
After leaving the Turf, Rob and his wife Leah bought a farm close to Knapp and fulfilled a long time dream of "getting back to the country." After a spell of looking for a bar/club to buy as well as booking bands in nearby Menomonie (8 miles down the road), Rule and a partner eventually came across the future Bar Chord. A previous owner had sunk 3/4 of a million dollars renovating the space, which had existed for 60+ years, mostly as a supper club/lounge kinda deal. For a variety of reasons, the previous owner went out of business in short order and the bank repossessed the property. Rob and his new partner got a great -- if not once in a lifetime -- deal on the place. You might even say they got it for, appropriately enough, a "song." Rob figured his budget would limit him to a "fixer upper" kinda place; he had no idea he would soon be the owner of an establishment that looks like it was just built a few years ago.
When you walk in the door for the first time, the last thing that enters your mind is that you're walking into a "dive." There's a huge restaurant, a spiffy new bar/billiard room and a large music room with a high ceiling and clear view of the stage. The recent renovation is evident everywhere you turn -- everything seems brand new cuz it is, from the bathrooms to the bar itself; there are even new flat screen TVs!!? Rob has decorated the place with his trademark style that will be instantly familiar to fans of the original Turf Club. The attention to detail as well as the "lived in" aura of the whole place is strangely deceiving; the joint looks like it's been up and running for years, not mere weeks.
Above the entrance to the music room you can't help but notice a large proclamation: "Live Music is Better," a motto of Rob's for sure as well as a nod to Neil Young, one of his musical heroes. The stage (with video monitors below spelling out the name of the place) is spacious, the PA is first-rate and the overall vibe is about as comfortable as a live music venue can be. If the Bar Chord was in the Twin Cities, i can guarantee you that it would instantly be one of the most popular places in town. It's certainly the hottest joint in the "greater Knapp" area. :-)
One of neatest things about the Bar Chord -- and something that made me chuckle as soon as i pulled up in the parking lot -- is evident before you even walk in the door. Rob has transferred the spirit and mythology of the old "SPMC" to the new "BCMC" (Bar Chord Music Club), right down to the design of the logo itself. Very cool. Even though you're an hour away from the Twin Cities, when you walk in you feel like you're on familiar, er, turf; that you've come back home.
And, in a way, you have.
So far, Rob is booking live music on Fridays and Saturdays. He's hoping to tap into the nearby Stout and River Falls college markets, as well as drawing those adventerous souls from the Twin Cities who are willing to make the journey to Cheesehead land. The BCMC roster over the last few weeks eerily resembles Turf Club calendars from a few years ago -- Rank Stangers, Ol Yeller, Kruddler, Grant Hart, etc.
As for the drive from the Twin Cities, it ain't no big thing -- an hour straight out I-94 to exit 32, go a few miles north down into the valley and you'll soon find yourself on HWY 12 in beautiful downtown Knapp. Speaking as a veteran of numerous runs up to the Red Carpet in St. Cloud, this is an even easier trip, perfect for a mini weekend getaway to a land that time has seemingly forgot (wait to you see the prices on the restaurant menu; talk about reverse sticker shock!).
Even though they just opened, the Bar Chord seems to be doing OK with their "food by day, music by night" strategy. Time will tell how business will grow in this remote little burg -- a former stagecoach stop on what was the main highway between the Twin Cities and Chicago back before the interstate was built a half century ago -- but, knowing Rob & Leah and their enthusiasm, ya gotta like their chances. After all, it wasn't that long ago that people were thinking he was nuts for thinking he could start up a rock club in St. Paul's midway -- and look how that turned out.
Kudos to Rob and Leah. Best of luck and long may you -- and the Bar Chord -- run.
Bar Chord
No comments:
Post a Comment