SUPERIOR — An entrepreneur known for breathing new life into the Jade Fountain in Duluth is bringing his vision to one of Superior’s historic buildings. Kai Soderberg purchased the Boston Block at 1302 Tower Ave. in November. Paul Durham, the same person who helped him redefine the Jade Fountain, is working with Soderberg to turn the 14,000-square-foot space into a mix of opportunities.
The Duluth entrepreneur was initially seeking a larger venue for musical performances and events, with batch cocktails and possibly food sent over from the Jade Fountain kitchens.
The Boston Block offers that and much more.
“Looking at the building, we realized yes, this could be a venue, but it could also be kind of a community of artistic talent in the area,” Soderberg said. “There’s a lot of studio spaces, like 10 studio spaces. There’s a storefront, there’s that display window. We have people in line that we’re going to be renting to and they’re all artists and stuff. And to have that kind of community and that kind of energy, synergistic energy, would be nice.”
Phase 1 of the work will create studio spaces in the mezzanine area — possibilities include a dance studio, a recording studio, a yoga studio and an art studio. Soderberg said they could be usable within a few months.
The Boston Block will house not one, but two performance/event venues with different energies.
The more stylish main floor, which could be rented out for weddings, office parties and more, will have a stage and bar area and is expected to open this summer. That is phase 2 of the project. For phase 3, the basement of the building, which Soderberg said used to be a renowned pool hall, will be fitted with a simple stage for events like punk rock performances as well as a game room.
“Kai will bring a larger venue for events in the Superior Business Improvement District,” said Kelly Peterson, executive director of the district. “We have a large number of bars and restaurants that have live music, and we look forward to the different events Kai will offer. Superior has welcomed events, music, plays with Time Arc Theatre, as well as The LOT in the Superior Downtown Farmers Market space, and I am sure this venue will be a highlight as well. The more, the merrier.”
Soderberg’s current plan calls for living quarters on the building's top floor — rooms for visiting performers to rent or an Airbnb — with a possible hallway art gallery.
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The historic building has high ceilings (15 feet tall in the main floor performance space) and good bones, Soderberg said, and is mostly in need of cosmetic work. The 1913 structure has housed the Boston Store, Jackson's New Bowling Alley and Billiard Parlor, JC Penney, Superior Stoveworks, and the state of Wisconsin Probation and Parole over the years. Fish and dolphins adorn the wall beside the steps to the basement, indicating it was once the site of a store for aquatic animals.
“Superior’s cheaper. It’s more business-friendly. The sales tax is a lot nicer,” he said. “I really like the energy around Superior."
It has a similar feel to the energy that drew him to Duluth’s Spirit Valley neighborhood.
“I’ve already met some folks on the block, worked with the city of Superior a little bit," Soderberg said. "Everybody is very gung ho. They’re very welcoming, and I’m super excited to be in Superior. I think it’s up and coming, I think it’s business friendly. I think downtown Superior is nice and clean. I just really think it’s on the up and up and I’m just super excited to be part of that community.”
The Jade Fountain will remain a touchstone in Duluth's Spirit Valley neighborhood as more of a craft cocktail bar than an event space.
“We will be doing some music there still, but we will be more focusing music at the new spot and the Jade Fountain will kind of be leaning more toward tropical drinks and developing a consistent bar menu and just being more of a place where people can come and have a good time but there’s not necessarily going to be a show going on there,” Soderberg said.
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