Red Kelley's Building to Be Reinvigorated
Once upon a time, we’d listen to Jazz at Red Kelley’s at 11th and Tacoma. Shortly after discovering Red, the place closed. A wee bit later, Red passed away. The Tacoma Public Library received much of the memorabilia that used to fill the place. The building, with its deteriorating green awnings sat vacant. A lot of people seemed to have ideas for the building, but nothing seemed to be happening.
Well, the building has been sold a few times since. The awnings were removed. Folks started asking us what was going on. It would seem it’s all the talk today. The building hit the Commerial MLS and it got a mention in the Biz Buzz. Emails started coming in … so here’s what we know.
From the listing:
Newly renovated space due for completion in February/March 2009. Located on prominent downtown corner across the street from Tacoma’s City and County buildings and Tacoma’s Downtown Main Library. Tons of foot and street traffic.
Are you looking for someplace to rent with a bit of good ol’ fashioned Tacoma history? How about a jazz club? Anybody?
Link to Commercial MLS
Link to The News Tribune
Thank you, Jake
Filed under: Developments, General
4 comments
C Christine September 20, 2008
That is fantastic! Kellys has been a blighted corner for a long time and its a waste of a good building.
I kind of hope that something to commemorate Red and Donna and everything they were is woven into the remodel. They were friends of mine and I think they both did a lot for this city. I know that they would love E-133 and many other things going on in Tacoma.
It’s exciting that a new tenant is moving in to help this city to thrive, but I will always think of it as Red and Donna’s place. That’s not a bad thing.
J Jesse September 20, 2008
There needs to be a Tacoma Ave LID too. The street is too wide, ugly, and full of trashy people and cars—-> a parking garage for the courthouse? A limit to the number of those bail bonds joints needs to be looked at as there’s way too many. If this place becomes a pub again, I hope they cater to the dive bar crowd as that’s all they are likely to get as this street is scary at night.
But, negativity aside (sorry), you have to start someplace and this is a nice building to set that pace. Maybe we could help the owners and the city with that LID idea?
M Mofo from the Hood September 20, 2008
Here’s a building that sits right on a major intersection, comprised of key government offices and Tacoma’s main library.
There’s the riddle. The three other sides of the intersection have been stable for 50 years. This one building, on a highly visible corner, falls into decay. Explain.
I read the Tribune article and I’m glad that it acknowledged Siri’s Restaurant. I lived across the street from the Siriani family when I was a kid and they were a classy and friendly family. Their son Barry would often invite us neighborhood guys over to play pool and hang out.
So, I’m glad that the building is finally getting a makeover. It’s spray-on remodel job never looked that great to me back in the 1960’s, and the look never improved one bit since then.
A altered chords September 23, 2008
Apparently Red Kelly’s left shortly after I arrived in Tacoma.
The confluence of quality jazz and quality martinis sounds like an Altered Chords slice of heaven.