Welcome Back, Jamey’s House of Music!
It’s so nice to see new businesses opening up around Lansdowne but it’s especially nice to see established businesses REOPENING after COVID-19 closures. One particular venue that recently reopened is Jamey’s House of Music, 32 S. Lansdowne Avenue. We talked to Jamey about his upcoming performance schedule, the renovations and upgrades he made during downtime, and why he loves Lansdowne. Read more here about how his live music venue is welcoming artists back to their stageand customers to their seats
How long have you been in business?
Four plus years at this location, ten years previously in Philadelphia.
What made you choose your current location?
We wanted a centrally located commercial space outside, but close to, Philadelphia, and searched in a 25 mile radius for a few years. While we were looking, we took over Patrone Restaurant in Lansdowne with the idea to incorporate the restaurant into the eventual live music venue. When the building next door came on the market, it proved to be ideal in every way. We fell in love with Lansdowne so we bought the building, and the rest is history.
Tell us a little about your business.
I bring a lifetime of experience in the live music business as a musician, audio design engineer, sound man, large and small venue operator and entrepreneur. Suyun, the co-owner and my wife, grew up in China in a family of restaurant owners. She owned and operated the popular “Heaven-Heaven” restaurant in Southern China. Jamey’s House ofMusic grew out of our desire to build a place unlike any other to hear top quality music of every genre, and to serve great tasting food in a state of the art listening space with the finest audio and video equipment.
How are things going in the time of COVID-19?
Don’t ask. We were fully shut down for just over one year, and we gradually reopened inearly April. It has been devastating financially but we decided to make good use of the time, and have recently completed major upgrades and renovations including COVID mitigation measures. We made a substantial capital investment in our future in Lansdowne and can’t wait to hit full steam ahead.
Where do you see your business in the next year?
We don’t regard this as much a traditional business as an extension of our love of music, good food and hospitality. We’ve already garnered local, national and international acclaim, and we hope to build on that to deliver over-the-top enjoyment to our guests and performing artists far into the future. We are grooming our thirteen year old to continue the tradition now.
Why did you join the LBPA?
I don’t see how anyone can run a business in this or any community without becoming amember of the local business support system. The LBPA is a terrific group of business owners who love our unique little town and are devoted to the success of the larger business community.What are your company’s goals? To become legendary worldwide.
How many employees do you have and what are their positions/titles?
My wife and I are the only full-timers, so we do it all. I take care of all the technical and financial business, while Chef Suyun is the wizard in the kitchen and does the daily shopping. We have four part-timers who handle front of house and kitchen duties. We are partnered with the Crooked Eye Brewery to run our bar, and they have a rotating cast of part-timers involved.
What’s your favorite thing about working in Lansdowne?
I am a director at the LBPA and on the economic development committee of the LEDC, so I am a major booster of all the benefits of being part of a vibrant small town like Lansdowne. It’s one square mile of goodness, packed with artists, musicians, creatives and business people who care. I don’t think you will run into anyone on the street who isnot proud of our burg.
Jamey’s House of Music has many special events coming up in addition to their weekly Thursday Night Jazz Jam and Sunday Blues Brunch so get on their mailing list or checkout their website at www.jameyshouseofmusic.com for frequent updates on who’s coming to perform!