By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Broc Curry grew up in Bowling Green, booking bands at local bars and watching movies with his buddies at the Cla-Zel Theater.
A teenage entrepreneur, he booked bands before they hit big – Kid Rock at the old Club 21, Black Keys at Brewster’s Pourhouse, Wu-Tang Clan and Method Man at Howard’s.
At 48, Curry is returning to his hometown to bring his love of music and movies to the old theater in the city’s downtown. He bought the Cla-Zel business, and with the help of the building owner, Ammar Mufleh, plans to turn the historic structure into a venue for entertainment – concerts, movies and community gatherings.
Last week, as workers put fresh coats of paint on the signboards out front, Curry stood at the bar inside the theater.
“To have the opportunity to get into this room and take this over,” he said, as he gazed over the expansive interior. “As you can tell I’m excited about this. I think we’re very capable of bringing new life here.”
Mufleh, who purchased the Cla-Zel Theater in 2007, is also thrilled to have Curry bring his talents to the building that has been vacant a few years.
“The theater’s important to me,” Mufleh said. “I love this old structure.”
When Mufleh bought the theater – which turns 100 years old next year – he went way beyond his budget to renovate the building, bringing in artisans to revive the character of the theater.
“I’ve always had a penchant for film. It was decrepit at best,” he said of the downtown site. “But it was a cool theater with really cool bones.”
The integrity of the structure remains solid, he said. “It’s built like a bunker.”
Mufleh likes the vision Curry has for the site.
“This is an event center. It’s not a college bar,” Mufleh said. “Bowling Green offers a really unique community” with a unified historic downtown.
And Curry has the connections to make it work, he said.
“He has a great ear for talent,” Mufleh said. “He’s someone with passion who will do it right.”
Over his career, Curry has booked thousands of live events – in most recent years at his bar Frankie’s and the Ottawa Tavern, iconic band bars in Toledo.
“It’s a lot of work. It’s a lot of stress. It’s a lot of headaches. But when it comes together it’s the best feeling in the world,” he said with a smile.
As a youngster, Curry was crazy about music. “I wanted to be Eddie Van Halen at 7 or 8,” he said.
But his lack of musical talent led him to the next best profession. If he couldn’t provide the music himself, he could book talent to share. Curry wasn’t stuck on one genre, he wanted to share it all – punk, metal, country, electric, hip hop.
“The diversity is the thing I’m most proud of,” he said.
The Cla-Zel, which seated 500 when it was a theater, will fill a gaping hole in the Toledo area concert scene, which currently only has small venues like Frankie’s, and huge venues like the Stranahan, but nothing in between.
“This space would work for those shows,” Curry said. “I’m hoping we’ll see a wide variety of people.”
Curry also has fond memories of sinking down into the theater seats to watch cult classics like the “Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “Trainspotting,” and “Boogie Nights.”
He envisions the Cla-Zel being home to more than concerts, but also nonprofit and corporate events, as well as family celebrations. By early next spring, he hopes to have tribute bands booked, and some movie nights scheduled.
“I want to be able to come in here and see ‘Pulp Fiction,’” Curry said.
Though there have been multiple business operators of the space over the last 18 years, Mufleh, who works around the world with commercial and industrial real estate acquisition and investments, just can’t part with the Cla-Zel.
“I really appreciate what Ammar has done with this space,” Curry said.
“I still call myself the custodian,” Mufleh said. “It’s a place that will provide some new memories for folks.”
At the same time, the venue could bring more money to other businesses in the community, with people traveling here for events.
“He’d be able to bring in some heads in beds,” with events scheduled on slower weekday evenings.
The Cla-Zel will have a bar, but very limited food options during concerts, since Curry is hoping customers will patronize other food establishments in the city.
In preparation for its re-opening, the Cla-Zel’s iconic neon marquee has been spruced up, plus paint and woodwork have been touched up at the theater’s entrance. The interior is intact, and just needs a deep cleaning.
Curry is still debating how to design the interior space, so it’s flexible for all the potential uses.
One definite investment will be in the site’s sound system.
“We’re going to have sound in here that’s amazing,” Curry said. “Because of the artists we are booking it has to be top tier. I’m asking artists to come to a town they’ve never heard of,” so it’s got to be good.
“I want to say to them, ‘Check out this city I’m really proud of,’” he said.
The first show at the newly-opened Cla-Zel will feature Equipment on Friday, Oct. 24, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., and music starting at 7:30 p.m. Special guests will include Hemmingway Lane, FinalBossFight!, The Heartthrobs, and Mango Tree.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, and can be purchased at clazeltheater.com.
“The vibe is going to be great,” Curry said.
