These Businesses Have Made the Ultimate Pivot: A Totally Different Business Plan
COVID-19 has led to some spectacular creativity as businesses have found ways to survive. Whether it be moving online, offering delivery and pickup, or utilizing social media more, Arizona businesses have needed to adapt. Some businesses have even needed to completely change what they do. Meet Rebel Lounge, the Orpheum Theater and Club Congress; these businesses are usually venues for concerts. Venues have been one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, they were the first to close and will likely be the last to open. Due to this, the Rebel Lounge and Orpheum theater needed to find new ways to bring in revenue and stay afloat.
Rebel Lounge in Phoenix
The Rebel Lounge closed its doors in March but recently reopened as a bar and cafe! The cafe portion is headed by specialty coffee shop Reap and Sow; from 7 am to 6 pm you can get your favorite coffee, pastries and burritos. Reap and Sow also offers some delicious specialty drinks. After 6 pm, Rebel Lounge takes the wheel and transforms the space into a 21 and over bar. The bar is open until 10 pm and from Tuesday to Sunday there are themed nights such as punk and emo trivia nights and locals only. To keep patrons safe, The Rebel Lounge is still only open to a limited capacity and they have taken other safety precautions such as requiring masks. Rebel Lounge owner Stephen Chilton believes that it will be 6 months to a year before they can open again as a music venue. In the meantime, show your support and get your morning coffee or a happy hour drink at The Rebel Lounge. Reap and Sow Coffee Shop and Rebel Lounge is located at 2303 E Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85016
Orpheum Theater in Phoenix
The Orpheum Theater has returned to its roots and become a movie theater once again! Before it was the Orpheum Theater, the building was the Paramount Theater and it is included on the National Register of Historic Places. The last time a movie was shown there was 1967! With the current sound system and new film screen, it’s sure to be an incredible experience while paying homage to the history of the building. The Theater has partnered with FilmBar to help screen the films and create a theatrical experience, including special effects that reflect the storyline of the film being played. The theater has taken many precautions to keep moviegoers safe; they will only fill 300 of the 1,300 available seats, there is only one screening per day to allow for thorough disinfection, as well as other safety measures. From December 11-13, you can catch “Psycho” as well as “The Nutcracker” from December 19-20. The Orpheum Theater is located at 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix.
Club Congress in Tucson
Before COVID, Club Congress was hosting concerts in both their indoor and outdoor venues. Club Congress is the nightlife element of Hotel Congress in Tucson and, like many other music venues, has needed to find ways to approach their business differently. To move forward in 2020 and beyond, Club Congress has partnered with musicians and food artisans in Tucson to keep the music going. The Cup Cafe, one of the resident restaurants at Hotel Congress, has moved to the outdoor venue space and gone completely open-air with their seating. The Cup Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner dining and on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday you can find live music and themed food events at Club Congress. Get ready for Blues and BBQ every Sunday or enjoy Americana music while chowing down on Tacos each Tuesday. Need a relaxing intro to the weekend? Snap along to Jazz music on Fridays. On Wednesdays, the Cup Cafe turns their kitchen over to Black-owned food entrepreneurs for Soul Food Wednesday. It’s a great way for Black businesses to bring in funds and it’s an incredibly fun night. Any event at Club Congress is COVID safe; they operate at a limited capacity and require social distancing and masks.
Music venues have been hit especially hard during COVID-19 and not all venues have been able to adapt. The nation’s top independent music venues and promoters have joined together to form the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) to fight for the survival of independent venues, their employees, artists, fans and their communities. Membership is at no cost to venues and is accessible here.