LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Five months after a deadly shooting outside a nightclub in west Louisville, new management is working toward a fresh start.
Sugar Ray's Lounge on West Broadway is set for a soft opening next month, replacing the old H2O Lounge that shut its doors at the very same storefront.
Stephon Harbin, the building's new owner, is no stranger to running businesses differently. He co-owns Double Deuce Sports Bar and Grill, which only takes customers 35 and older.
On Wednesday, Harbin told WHAS11 his motivation is to "change the dynamic" in west Louisville.
"I want it to be a space where everybody feels comfortable. You can go down Bardstown Road, you can go to any bar and you see all different types of people -- all demographics. And I just want to see that happen in west Louisville," he said.
Harbin's working toward a new identity and a brighter future for a venue with a troubled past.
When asked how much he believes H2O Lounge's environment played into the shooting, Harbin said "that was probably the biggest factor, which is the reason why we're going more for the 40 and over crowd."
In June, that block of west Broadway turned into a crime scene. Multiple people were shot. H2O Lounge never reopened after a mass shooting took the life of a man at the nightclub's doorstep.
"I just want people to know this is a safe space. You don't have to worry about being inside an establishment and getting shot or stabbed or hurt in any way," Harbin said.
Harbin believes the bones of the venue are good, but they need to spotlight something different.
"I want to make Louisville jazz again, right," he said. "Soulful Sundays. [We're] hiring a chef, we serve food, looking for local artists -- jazz, blues."
Meanwhile, the community still wants more police around to support businesses working the overnight hours.
"If people know that they're just a phone call away and just right up the street, then they feel more apt to come and enjoy themselves and feel comfortable," Harbin said.
But Harbin's not waiting to make changes. He said Sugar Ray's will have security and metal detectors to keep their venue safe. They're hoping for a grand opening early next year.
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