Char’s Has the Blues was a stalwart in the Melrose neighborhood of Phoenix for decades. The tiny music venue became the home of the Valley blues community after Jim and Char Rymond opened it in 1985. Its tiny, parquet dance floor crowded many nights with music lovers dancing to the beat.
But like a lot of music venues, it went dark when the pandemic hit in 2020, and it seemed for a time like it might not reopen.
Then news broke that a Phoenix developer had bought it up and reopened it. Now it’s called Char’s LIVE. That developer was David Cameron — he and his wife, Brooklyn, saw the potential and wanted to revamp the spot that had housed such blues magic.
They’ve really renovated the space, with a new location for the stage and new decor throughout. But a few things remain, including the original dance floor.
The Show's Lauren Gilger stopped by for a tour and spoke with the pair about the venue.
And since that conversation took place, news broke that Cameron also stepped in to keep another beloved Phoenix music venue alive: the Lost Leaf.
Ed Masley covers music for the Arizona Republic, and he broke this latest story. The Show spoke with him about both of these longtime, local music spots, and what it means that they’ll still be around going forward.
