No More Guessing About It; House of Blues to Rock San Diego

SAN DIEGO-House of Blues Entertainment plans to open a 30,000-sf nightclub and restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter–possibly in the oldWoolworth building.

The new facility would be open by the middle of next year and involve an investment of up to $10 million, according to Adam Friedman, senior vice president for HOBE. He said the well-known concert promoter and venue operator is looking at two or three different sites.

Downtown watchers have speculated that the 11-story Woolworth building, which was bought by American National Investment Inc. in 1998, is HOBE’s first choice for club.

For years, local officials have speculated that HOBE, which has evolved into the nation’s second-largest concert promoter, would open a facility in San Diego County.

HOBE also announced Monday that it will open clubs or amphitheaters in San Jose, Denver, Dallas, Kansas City, Austin and Salt Lake City. HOBE, which is partly owned by actor Dan Ackroyd, operates Coors Amphitheater in Chula Vista and has booking agreements at SDSU’s Open Air Theater and Cox Arena.