Joe Jackson teams up with Gary man for new club

By Michael Gonzalez Post-Tribune correspondent December 2, 2011 5:54PM



Hustle & Joe's is written in glass tiles on the floor of the newly-rehabbed building that now houses Joe Jackson's H & J's Sports Bar in Gary, Ind. Friday December 2, 2011. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media


Updated: December 3, 2011 2:02AM


GARY — Joe Jackson may become more than a black-clad background figure occasionally popping in and out of his hometown. The father of the late Michael Jackson has joined a local friend Kathleen Cole and her son Jamal “Hustle” Rodgers to try to revive a west side club into a hot spot for clubgoers and sports fans.

Hustle and Joe’s, 1700 Grant St., is a spacious club with a VIP room and nooks, a full kitchen, flat screen TVs dotting the walls, a 20-foot long bar and space for parties and dancing. The home of the former Satches night club and Chez Criton and is adorned with wood paneling, mirrored balls and sound system speakers.

“We’re doing a lot of grown-up activity,” said Rodgers, who also owns Everlasting Limousine service, a tow truck business and rental properties. “I think it’s a great time to open this club because even if people come out for a laugh or two, it’s very affordable.”

As workers put the finishing touches on the club, Chicago-based Note 4 Note, fronted by Gary saxophonist Reggie Foster, rehearsed on stage ahead of kicking off a three-day grand opening starting Friday night, along with poet Elena Love. The Chi-Lites, favorites from the 1960s and 1970s, will join singer Joe Wayne on Saturday night, while Sunday will feature comedians George Wilborn, Tony Sculfield and Damon Williams.

The club will have a cover charge, ample security and a strict dress code to draw a more mature crown, Rodgers said. Plans for the bar include a monthly “power week” of top-name entertainers, stepping shows and comedy acts, a regular Sunday art show for local artists and Soul Food Sundays, he said.

Fliers and signs describe the club as Joe Jackson’s H&J’s Sports Bar, but Jackson was nowhere to be found. Rodgers said getting Jackson involved was important to draw attention to the business, but, he insisted, it did not get him any special attention from city officials and inspectors.

Jimmy Hendricks also helped to get the club idea moving. Hendricks, a barber and businessman, said a sports bar in Gary is long overdue.

“It’s something our people can do without having to go out of the city to places like Merrillville and Schererville to watch a game and have some drinks,” Hendricks said.