New beginnings at The Bend Lounge, a place for community, creativity and culture
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A new Black-owned venue in South Bend says it hopes to become your “new favorite place.” They aim to provide a hub for community and local musical performances.
The Bend Lounge, located at the corner of Jefferson and Niles Ave., has been open for just over a month and has already served over a thousand customers attracting visitors, musicians, and local artists to the upscale scene.
The vision started with all three partners, Aja Ellington, Armar’rae Hill, and Mychela Winston, all seasoned musicians themselves, looking to create a space where local artists shine and live entertainment meets good company.
The atmosphere welcomes people who love Jazz, Blues, or R and B music, and one of the owners says behind every performance is an authentic unforgettable experience.
The experience is only available three days a week, Thursdays 5 to 11 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays 5 p.m. to midnight. They encourage customers to dress to impress.
The lounge stands out because of the musicians, the upscale vibe, and keeping safety as a priority for all their customers.
The new Black business welcomes community events, baby showers, birthdays, and even work events with open arms as they hope to become the next cultural hub for South Bend.
The executive owner, Hill, says the South Bend theme makes downtown feel, sound, and taste more exciting
“We have the Nile Grill Wings, and the Centre Tips and we also show homage to other businesses within our community like the Chocolate Cafe and so forth so that's one thing you will learn about the Bend Lounge is that we are South Bend themed,” said Hill.
The menus are locally inspired, think Dillinger’s Last Ride, The Studebaker, and South Shore. Their goal is to serve more than just a meal but to share a piece of South Bend history.
The Bend Lounge provides an outlet for the community of local artists and musicians to showcase their talents. Local artist Kamika Perry has her artwork featured on their walls.
The owners want the community to feel welcome to build connections as they offer a place for everyone to call home.
“It has already become a social hub for people to network and that’s one thing that we are excited about. We had the Boys & Girls club and individuals from Notre Dame join us and use our space for their networking events,” said Hill.
If you're a local artist looking to perform on The Bend Stage, rent the space or showcase your artwork you are encouraged to contact them on social media or email The Bend Lounge directly at [email protected]