New Independent Music Venue Set to Open in Lincoln Park, Denver

Entrepreneur James McClain is on a mission to enliven Denver's Lincoln Park neighborhood by transforming a large warehouse into a vibrant music venue. With plans to repurpose the 18,000-square-foot space at 730 N. Umatilla St., McClain and his investment partner acquired the property for $3.2 million in 2021.

A Zone of Creativity in Lincoln Park

Convinced that Denver will experience significant growth, McClain saw Lincoln Park, located just south of the Art District on Santa Fe, as an untapped area ripe for creative endeavors. He believes the venue, which will undergo a $2.5 million renovation of the vintage 1950s warehouse, can act as a catalyst for injecting artistic energy into the commercial district.

The planned facility will feature a main stage, a bar, and an outdoor space suitable for hosting fairs and festivals. With the intent to create more than just a music venue, McClain envisions a multi-purpose community space that will be open to live performances, DJ sets, comedy, and various social as well as charitable events.

From LA to Denver: A Sound Journey

McClain's journey began when he moved from Los Angeles to Denver ten years ago to start his sound and production company, Awaken The Night. The business, which brought soundscapes to events like the Sonic Bloom festival and Tipper Red Rocks, morphed into Sugarkube—a members-only nightclub that emerged in response to the lack of after-hour venues in Denver. Now, McClain is ready to take his club experience to the next level with this full-scale music and entertainment venture.

The decision to create this music haven stems from McClain's and his team's deeply rooted love for live music, shaped by their backgrounds as musicians themselves. He foresees no issue with noise disturbances, noting the warehouse’s location is ideally situated away from residential areas.

The new venue is set to open next year and will be a neighbor to The Junkyard, a fellow music spot operated by Live Nation, located just a short distance away. Despite its yet-to-be-revealed name, the excitement for this upcoming music destination is building.

venue, music, transformation