NEW BARS: Speakeasy

Art Gonzalez, a Chicago-born businessman, moved to the Valley a few years back. Gonzalez buys and sells steel, and he travels frequently for work. When he finds himself in the Windy City, he says he always stops at the Redhead Piano Bar.

The Redhead is quiet and lively all at once. It's an upscale place, but not too upscale. A little bar to have a drink, to talk and to feel eloquent.

During his time in the Valley, Gonzalez dreamed of having that experience.

Now he has made it possible.

The Speakeasy Piano Bar's style and atmosphere resembles Gonzalez's favorite Chicago watering hole.

The establishment will feature nightly live music from a pianist or jazz band. It has a VIP area in the back, several large booths along the side and a massive and slick granite bar.

Gonzalez envisions a clientele of business folks, talking quietly and relaxing with a drink from his stock of more than 20 beers and 30 types of wine.

"It's a place you can talk to your friends, relax and listen to music," he says.

Interesting note: Speakeasy's south wall features an ambient, exposed-brick style. And it sort of happened by accident. Owner Art Gonzalez found the wall covered in paint. He chipped part of it off, and noticed the look fit. Fast forward a few months and workers have removed all the paint, leaving the excellent exposed-brick look.

Loretta Gonzalez, owner Art Gonzalez's wife, on her husband's long-time obsession with The Redhead Piano Bar in Chicago "He's been talking about that bar for years."

Speakeasy Piano Bar
316 S. 17th St.
(956) 631-7332
www.myspace.com/speakeasypianobar

Projected opening date: Dec. 5

Style: Prohibition era lounge

Musical style: Jazz

Live music: A pianist will play nightly and the bar will occasionally feature live jazz bands

Recipe Pepper's Uptown + prohibition + piano music

Dresscode: Yes

High tech features: The Speakeasy will soon broadcast live streaming video of its musicians. Those interested can log onto the bar's www.rgvspeakeasy.com Web site and watch. The bar will also have monitors for karaoke.

One year outlook: Very good. Speakeasy targets a niche foreign to the Valley. It should attract visiting business men, professionals and lots of high-powered meetings.

Typical patron: Maybe an attorney, entrepreneur or doctor, probably sporting the blazer with no tie look. Typical patrons will likely own many jazz albums. They have also probably visited northern or east coast cities and enjoyed similar piano bar set ups.