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66 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, April 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend April 1, 2004 Robin Mesloh of Medford serves drinks at Porters in Medford Wednesday night. Porters and other nightspots in central Medford are helping to revive downtown life. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven Medford’s downtown nightlife New bars and restaurants with entertainment have brought nighttime fun back to the city core By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune When it comes to Medford’s downtown’s nightlife, there’s one thing you can say about it. "It’s improved," said Tom Phillips, a loan officer who works downtown and was having a drink with friends at Porters at 147 N. Front St. Wednesday evening. He said he goes out to a downtown bar about three times a month, and the nighttime just continues to get friendlier. With HighWaters Nightclub and Lounge scheduled to open at 9 p.m. Friday, and the nearby Sambuca’s Martini Bar and Italian Bistro aiming for a mid-April debut, the new businesses are part of a changing trend downtown. Steve Bozz opened Bozz’ Bluez and Jazz Club five months ago, and said the bar scene has come a long way in just the past few years. "Medford’s nightlife was in the gutters five years ago," he said Advertisement Bozz’s, at 17 S. Riverside Ave., is a non-smoking live music club and is already paying for itself, he said. With more people and classier bars, the neighborhood has taken a turn for the better. "(There’s) better entertainment, safer entertainment and more of a variety of entertainment," he said. HighWaters and Sambuca’s won’t be a threat but an asset, said Bozz, because patrons will walk around and visit more than one spot. HighWaters, located at 333 E. Main St., above Hubbard’s Ace Hardware, will have a DJ format with a dance floor, as well as a light dinner menu. "It’s hip hop, R&B, top 40," said owner Brian Vester, adding that even though they’ve been in limbo waiting to get a liquor license for more than three months, nothing’s changed about their plans. With an authentic Italian menu for lunch and dinner as well as a martini bar, Sambuca’s (410 E. Main St.) will be classy and elegant, said manager Jeff Smith. It’s all about people enjoying themselves, he said. "This is a walk-around area where people can come downtown and have a good time," said Smith, who will manage the new restaurant/bar with his fiancee, Lorrie Petersen. Petersen said their specialty is an extensive list of martinis — you can select your own olive — as well as other specialty drinks. She credits the Medford Urban Renewal Agency with being the force behind the dressing up of downtown. The buildings and signs are tastefully done, she said, and the renovated Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, also an urban renewal project, spruced up the downtown dramatically. "It just kind of vamped it up again," she said. Eric Vanderweggen, an employee of HighWaters, said from a business standpoint, the more bars the merrier, and it’s been a positive change for downtown. "The whole area has become kinda similar to a college-feel area," he said. Bozz credits the bar owners for going out on a limb to bring the nighttime back to life downtown. "Now all we need is the support of the people who said this is what Medford needs," said Bozz. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . HighWaters opens without its original general manager HighWaters Nightclub and Lounge was granted its liquor license Tuesday on the condition that Eric Vanderweggen is not the general manager. "I’m a little disappointed," said Vanderweggen, 29. Vanderweggen, who had been hired as the manager of the planned club at 333 E. Main St., above Hubbard’s Ace Hardware, was arrested in December for disorderly conduct, harassment and resisting arrest following a fight outside the Ground Zero nightclub a couple blocks away. The arrest occurred just days before club owners were hoping to get a liquor license approval from the Medford City Council so they could open their doors. But the arrest put a halt to the council’s recommendation and the Oregon Liquor Control Commission’s OK until Vanderweggen stepped down. "It was mandated by the state," he said. Vanderweggen said he went to court Wednesday and pleaded no contest to charges from the Ground Zero incident, and was fined more than $500 for two of the charges and the resisting arrest charge was dropped. The business owner, Brian Vester, has stuck by Vanderweggen through the ordeal, and said he plans to keep him on board as an employee. "For the time-being I’ll just help out where I’m needed," said Vanderweggen, adding he’s just thankful the business is finally opening. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! 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