A few breweries and eateries may have gotten attention for recently opening within sight of the Illinois River, but a few joints have been persevering here for years. Compared to Peoria’s past – from the heydays of Harold’s Club on Washington to the 1970s abundance of live-music clubs like the Second Chance – the market in recent decades descended into the Dark Ages (or maybe the Silent Years). Now, with regular live entertainment and distinctive foods, the greater Warehouse District is undergoing a Renaissance of sorts, sporting jazz and symphony orchestras, dueling pianos and dance lessons, all stretching from the Riverfront Museum to State Street.
“There are lots of events going on on the Riverfront, which brings much more traffic,” says Shelley Lenzini, who’s operated Rhythm Kitchen at 305 SW Water St. for 17 years.
Indeed, after years of infrastructure improvements and beautification efforts such as the Sculpture Walk and the nearby statue of Richard Pryor sculpted by Peoria artist Preston Jackson, more people are enjoying the welcoming environment of paving bricks and wider sidewalks and also the entertainment.
“The Peoria Riverfront sees an increase of traffic in the warmer months with the outdoor festivals, street parties, and RiverFront Market,” says singer, actor and impresario Andrew Driscoll, owner of The Waterhouse in the Maxam building, where “Howlin’ on Water … Dueling Pianos” has been featured one or two weekends a month for 12 years.
“ ‘Howlin’ on Water’ is a buffet dinner and show event, as The Waterhouse is primarily a banquet and catering facility,” Driscoll continues. “We have been very fortunate to build a large enough following that more times than not our seats are all sold with the advanced purchase dinner/show package. However, when walk-up, show-only admissions are allowed and available for the Broadway Lounge, I can see a chance of people who are along the Riverfront for other reasons possibly stopping in for the show.
“We are more of a chosen-in-advance destination,” he adds, so “I don’t see a lot of feeding off the other great live entertainment along the Riverfront.”
Contemporary Arts Center director William Butler says the scene spills over to other venues although better weather doesn’t always help business.
“The Riverfront in general continues to get more busy each year,” says Butler, who mentions not only the CAC’s live music but its “tango community” and salsa dances – which have gone on for eight years.
“It would seem to make sense that as it gets warmer that attendance or visitor traffic would increase. However, it is the opposite,” he continues. “Anything else that is going on is competition. If it is nice out, then that greatly increases the number of things that a person could choose to do. Our best attendance at events is January-March [when] at our weekly Friday night event, ‘Live at the Five Spot,’ I try to introduce new bands.
But “the Rhythm Kitchen and the Contemporary Art Center have a good relationship and collaborate in planning our calendars,” he adds. “We have a lot of the same customers.”
Lenzini agrees, saying, “There is a very friendly vibe and I don’t believe in competition down there. The more the merrier!”
Driscoll sees each site as a piece of a larger picture.
“The live entertainment [along the Riverfront] are rarely piano-based shows, so I think we add a nice complement to their offerings,” he says. “We tend to see 30s-50s as the age demographic for the couples or small groups. Since this show is also great for special occasions, that does change depending on what is being celebrated. (For example, we see a lot of birthday parties as well as bachelorette-party groups in which the ages vary.)
Likewise, the CAC skews older but varies.
“For ‘Live at the Five Spot,’ the ages run between 35-65,” Butler says. “We have lots of different facets to the organization, and each has its own community. For example, it is rare to have someone who likes the poetry event, ‘Whisper & Shout,’ come to hear live music. Probably the most common crossover is ‘Five Spot,’ and [the] opening art receptions. But we always attempt to cross over into other areas of the organization.”
The Rhythm Kitchen successfully crosses over.
“There’s no demographic here,” Lenzini says. “It’s a little bit of everyone – a collage of all types. [And] the Funk Yard, the Brazilionaires, and Cousin Eddy bring in large crowds no matter what.”
Larger crowds may be coming soon, although development is still needed, they say.
“There are many new businesses and developments sprouting down here, and more to come,” Lenzini says. “I think live music in general is making a big comeback and drawing people in.”
Driscoll says, “We are in the process of booking dates with comedians, magicians, musical acts, and theater offerings. For a music and entertainment scene to thrive, you will need many diverse venues.
“I am very hopeful for the Riverfront and Warehouse District to thrive in the near future,” he adds. “‘If you build it they will come,’ right? I applaud the businesses who offer live entertainment as well as those who are taking a risk with opening restaurants and retail establishments. Hopefully, their success will encourage other entrepreneurs.
“To play my part, I am increasing our entertainment offerings in the Broadway Lounge,” he continues. “ While we will continue to host ‘Howlin’ on Water,’ I have also booked a number of dates as part of our new series ‘BeCAUSE,’ which pairs an act with a charity.”
Butler hopes more residential opportunities will contribute to a revived area.
“The continued success of Peoria’s riverfront depends on increasing the amount of people living in the area and restoring free parking,” he says. “This is the next step to transform the area into being merely a destination to being a community. We are doing relatively well, but we still need support to swell.”