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By: Ron Price Tennessee Tribune Originally posted 10/22/2003  Continuing the trend of minority business owners revitalizing Jefferson Street, WVOL-AM 1470 radio station personality/owner John Heidelburg plans to transform the formerly known Jubilee restaurant into a hot nightclub called John Henry’s. The new nightclub will feature food, dancing, and various live entertainment from local and national music performers. It will feature great old-school and blues music for people to enjoy.“I want to provide classy entertainment for people,” Heidelburg said. “People always say that there is nothing to do in Nashville. I want to provide a place where people can relax and enjoy themselves.” Heidelburg bought the old Jubilee Restaurant building on Sept. 12. The building , which was once a great restaurant, was up for sale on auction. In the midst of about four bidders, Heidelburg bought the building . Heidelburg says that he is excited about buying the old Jubilee building and plans to enhance the former restaurant. “The Jubilee restaurant had great potential,” Heidelburg said. “I want to bring the nightclub scene back to Jefferson Street. The new nightclub will feature music that is compatible to WVOL-AM 1470s old school music format. It is going to be great for Nashville.” Other business owners and residents living near the Jefferson Street location are also exited about Heidelburg’s plans for the Jubilee building. They agree that the new entertainment business will be a great asset to Jefferson Street. “I think that (the opening of John Henry’s) is one of the greatest things that could be done to Jefferson Street,” said Paul Harper, owner of Jefferson Street’s restaurant Harper’s. “We need to bring more life to Jefferson Street. Jefferson Street is on the rise and the timing for a new nightclub is perfect. We need some live entertainment on Jefferson Street.” Nashville resident Phillip Inman also says that he enjoys the thought of a nightclub being brought to Jefferson Street. He says that he remembers Jefferson Street as once being the center of black entertainment in Nashville. He hopes that it can someday return to its bright past. “Jefferson Street used to have more flavor than it does today,” Inman said. “There used to be plenty of live entertainment. Blues legends such as Little Richard and others used to love to come to Jefferson Street. It used to have great clubs for the Nashville Blues scene. During the recent years Jefferson Street has went down. Creating a new nightclub would be great for Nashville. It would be a step in the right direction.” Heidelburg’s goal is to aid in bringing Jefferson Street into the Black entertainment area like it was before. “At one time Jefferson Street was the epic center of Black entertainment,” Heidelburg said. The Jefferson Street community was filled with great businesses, homes, shopping centers, and nightclub entertainment. I see the potential of Jefferson Street becoming a huge part of Nashville. I think that if people continue to have a love for Jefferson Street, they can help bring it back up.” Heidelburg plans to open John Henry’s on October 24th. “At this time we are refurnishing the building,” Heidelburg said. “We have people cleaning and getting the building ready for opening. We are also in the process of hiring a working staff and security. If things go according to plan we will be opening this month.” |
