The Van Buren is a music venue located in
Downtown Phoenix
Downtown Phoenix is the central business district (CBD) of the City of Phoenix, Arizona, United States. It is in the heart of the Phoenix metropolitan area or Valley of the Sun. Phoenix, being the county seat of Maricopa County, Arizona, ...
, Arizona. The venue sits on the southwest corner of Van Buren St. and 4th Ave.
Originally known as the Phoenix Motor Company building and the Dud R. Day Motor Company building,
it was built in 1929 for the Phoenix Motor Company. It was designed by Lescher and Mahoney, who also designed the
Orpheum Theatre.
History
The building was originally built in 1929 and home to the Phoenix Motor Company The building was designed by
Lescher and Mahoney
Lescher & Mahoney was an American architect, architectural firm from Phoenix, Arizona.
History
The firm was established in 1910 by Royal W. Lescher (1882–1957). Lescher practiced alone until 1912, when he took John R. Kibbey (1883� ...
, the same firm that created Phoenix's
Orpheum Theatre.
Pat Cantelme and his business partner Jim Kuykendall bought the building for $2.2 million in 2015. At the time, almost all of the building doors and windows had been boarded and plastered over, making it hard to see the potential of the structure. Cantelme and Kuykendall approached Charlie Levy, owner of other local Phoenix venues The Crescent Ballroom and Valley Bar, about the purchase of the building and a possible partnership.
After rediscovering the original storefront, doors, and windows, the group of partners received a $250,000 grant to help restore the building to its original design.
The Van Buren opened in the building on August 23, 2017 (Cold War Kids was the inaugural performance). There was enough space to fit 1,700 to 1,900 concertgoers.
The 1,900 capacity concert hall was voted Best New Music Venue in 2017, Best Large Venue in 2019, and Best Medium-Sized Venue in 2020. It was added to the
Phoenix Historic Property Register in May 2017
and to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in December 2018.
In April 2021,
Live Nation Entertainment
Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. is an American multinational entertainment company that was founded in 2010 following the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. It promotes, operates and manages ticket sales for live entertainment internation ...
took over control and ownership of The Van Buren. The group had had a partial stake in the venue prior, and bought out majority owner Charlie Levy after financial struggles due in large part to the
COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
pandemic that shutdown much of the music industry and touring.
Notable performances
A
Joywave
Joywave is an American band from Rochester, New York, formed in 2010. Their lineup consists of Daniel Armbruster (vocals), Joseph Morinelli (guitar), and Paul Brenner (drums). The band first became known for its collaboration with electronic mus ...
/
Cold War Kids
Cold War Kids are an American indie rock band from Long Beach, California. Band members are Nathan Willett (vocals, piano, guitar), Matt Maust (bass guitar), David Quon (guitar, backing vocals), Matthew Schwartz (keyboards, backing vocals, guit ...
show was the first official performance to be played at the venue on August 23, 2017. Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra performed the night before for the venue's soft opening, acting as a stress test for employees.
Phoenix Afrobest Orchestra was also the first show for the venue after its fifteen-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
See also
*
List of historic properties in Phoenix, Arizona
This is a list, which includes photographic galleries, of some of the remaining historic structures and monuments, of historic significance, in Phoenix, Arizona, United States. Included are photographs of properties identified by the African, A ...
*
Phoenix Historic Property Register
References
External links
Visit Phoenix Venue GuideLive Nation Phoenix Venues
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Buren, The
Music venues in Arizona
Theatres in Arizona
Buildings and structures in Phoenix, Arizona
Tourist attractions in Phoenix, Arizona
Music venues completed in 1993
2017 establishments in Arizona
Culture of Phoenix, Arizona
National Register of Historic Places in Phoenix, Arizona