The Scaffolding Comes Down at Kelly's
We know that Red Kelly had a special place in many of your memories. His music, and his club, were a throwback to a different time in Tacoma. So, after many months of work, we now see that the scaffolding is coming down at the corner of South 13th and Tacoma Avenue. The new face of Red’s old building is coming out for all to see.
Previously: Red Kelly’s Building to be Reinvigorated
Filed under: General
17 comments
E Erik S April 23, 2009
Finally some good news about downtown/the hilltop. Anybody hear anything about possible tenants? What will the building be used for?
E Erik B. April 23, 2009
Wow. They did a great job. I believe the space will at least partially be used by local attorneys who are renovating the buidling.
It would be nice if they had a restaurant on the first floor.
So many people work in the area around the courthouse and there are almost no restaurants there.
A altered Chords April 23, 2009
I’ve heard attorneys as well with a restaurant downstairs. That restaurant must become a live jazz venue. Otherwise the ghost of Red Kelly will not rest.
BTW. If it becomes a smooth jazz venue, the ghost of Red Kelly will go ballistic.
T Thorax O'Tool April 24, 2009
Not bad… but gray? Bland-tacular.
I think this is better:
A argyle April 24, 2009
Wow, that’s really amazing. It’s hard to believe it’s the same structure. Hopefully whatever they use it for (I second everyone on restaraunt, and especially a jazz venue of some kind) it will act like a seed for the rest of this part of the city. Most of the rest of the buildings in that neighborhood could use some love too.
A argyle April 24, 2009
P.S. @Thorax: Yes!
A altered Chords April 24, 2009
Thorax – can you paint my house?
S Squid April 24, 2009
Thorax, will you have some of that paint left over for the Murray Morgan Bridge?
T Thorax O April 24, 2009
Painting over stone is a sin, but have we considered?
S Squid April 24, 2009
Seriously, do the bridge.
T Thorax O'Tool April 24, 2009
It would be faster and easier to paint the real thing with 10,000 gallons of latex paint.
S Squid April 24, 2009
Can you imagine that sucka with a coat of International Orange or Egg Yolk Yellow? Even cobalt blue. I-conic.
D Dave L. April 25, 2009
Thanks, Derek. Nice. You are so right, ‘Chords. Red and Donna Kelly are very particular about jazz, who is playing it, and what his or her experience is (a banner by the stage read, “Go some place else and get discovered, and then come here.”), so I doubt the ghost of Red will ever rest there unless the owners have trad. jazz in their blood. Smooth Jazz would not be wise. “Noise,” and “Pollution” Donna would say. Many of Red’s local contemporaries, legendary in jazz history, are now gone, but the best grand opening show would include some of the veteran local players who have played there, like Bill Ramsay, Al Gord, and Greg Williamson. If it is good, perhaps the ghost of Red will come up from his downstairs apartment to enjoy a cheezatini at the bar and tell a few jokes.
Architecturally, they made the building look good, but I wish they would have taken advantage of a recently discovered early photo the Northwest Room has and offered, and I still don’t like the white windows. But while it’s does not replicate the original (nor its mirror-image twin I’m told once sat one the opposite corner) they did put some nice thought and effort into it, what with the brackets along the cornice an all, and it’s nice to see life and a decent-looking building on that corner and stretch of Tacoma Ave. (Confidential to ‘Chords: Maia Santell Sunday at Johnny’s.)
A argyle April 26, 2009
Good heavens Thorax! You’ve managed to make it even more of an eyesore. ;)
C Christine April 26, 2009
Encased in glass near the front door should be one of the tan leisure suit/jumpsuit ensembles Red always wore. I think of Red and Donna all the time. Such great people and I’m happy to see the building fixed up.
If there is a restaurant, maybe the owners could ask the Kelly/Griswold family for some copies of a few of the photos from the restaurant.
T Thorax O'Tool April 27, 2009
I like the red bridge.
But creating eyesores is what I do best.
Aside from all this, I still think the gray-on-gray-on-white for the building is uninspired. I would love to see something brighter and more eye catching.
J Jake April 27, 2009
Get a few trees in front of the building and it will look fine. :)