Ruben Studdard Opens Up Club

[Brian Damage]

The Velvet Teddy Bear is turning into a lounge lizard.

Ruben Studdard has signed a deal with Memphis-based developer Performa Entertainment Real Estate to open a club in the $50 million entertainment district of his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama.

The club has been tentatively dubbed Ruben's Club 205 in honor of the area-code jerseys Studdard sported on the second season of American Idol. It will offer the kind of R&B and gospel music for which the singer is known, Performa said.

Studdard isn't the only Idol alum staking out his turf in the burgeoning Birmingham club scene.

Performa is also talking with season five winner and Alabama native Taylor Hicks about opening a club of his own in the district, city officials said at a board meeting Wednesday.

Hicks' Birmingham-based attorney said negotiations were still in the early stages but that the silver-haired singer was interested in developing a venue to showcase the kind of musicians with whom he worked before hitting the big time.

Representatives for Hicks were due to meet with Performa in Memphis on Friday.

Other businesses planned for the district include two hotels and dozens of clubs, shops and restaurants, slated to open as soon as summer 2009.

Studdard released his most recent album, The Return, in October 2006. The album debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 pop chart and went on to sell 231,000 copies.

Hicks' self-titled major-label debut was released in December 2006, debuting at number two and selling 695,000 copies to date.


http://www.eonline.com/news/article/...80&entry=index