*The last time Aretha Franklin made news on EURweb it was for the photo of her above which alarmed the hell out of a lot of people and started rumors that she was dealing with some kind of dire medical situation.
Well, the Queen of Soul is making headlines again. We’ve learned that 75-year-old music legend and cultural icon – who announced her semi-retirement earlier this year – plans to open a nightclub in Detroit.
Franklin actually voiced her desire to open a live music venue and “fine-dining” operation back in 2015. At the time, she said she was already exploring possible locations with Dan Gilbert’s Bedrock Real Estate.
“I’m interested in doing a small nightclub downtown, and he (Bruce Schwartz, Detroit relocation ambassador for Bedrock Real Estate Services) and I have been talking about this for a couple of years now and I’m just letting him know I’m still interested. In my retirement plan, I’d like to have a small club here in Detroit.”
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Now she appears to be moving ahead with her plan. She even has a name for it: “It would be Aretha’s,” she told the Detroit Free Press.
Yes, you read that correctly. Her club will be called: “It Would Be Aretha’s.”
“From time to time I would sing, and of course, I would have special artists come in to perform for the city that people in Detroit like — Detroit favorites.”
It also appears that Franklin is still in talks with possible partners and says she’s open to other investors besides Gilbert.
Meanwhile, Detroit Eater says that Franklin isn’t the only music artist to return to Detroit and open a business.
White Stripes co-founder Jack White opened a Cass Corridor location and record pressing facility for his label, Third Man Records in 2015 and an as-of-yet unnamed musician from a “a well-known rock band” is expected to open an Italian restaurant called Brudders in West Village this winter. Kid Rock may also be putting his name on a restaurant inside the new Little Caesars Arena.
We’re still trying to wrap our head around Sister Re’s name for her club. One mo’ again: “It Would Be Aretha’s.”
So whaddya think?
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