From the Caribbean to California to Traverse City

The Red Piano is bringing more live music to downtown TC

By Ross Boissoneau | March 21, 2026

A piano bar that features live entertainment seven days a week, with two shows on the weekends? That may sound like a bit much, but if it works in Sint Maarten and Santa Barbara, it might just work in Traverse City. Right?

Jason Jones thinks so. Jones and his partner, Colin Campbell, first came up with the concept of the Red Piano in 2006. At the time two were enjoying the high life in Sint Maarten. “We were popular bartenders,” says Jones.

After realizing their concept of a piano bar where the music never stopped, starting an hour after opening and running seven nights a week, they decided to move back to the U.S. They sold the bar to a couple of their employees, and it is still going strong. They then took the concept 3,600 miles west to Santa Barbara, California.

“It was an opportunity to get back [stateside]. I had a baby, a pregnant wife, and in Santa Barbara there was no piano bar,” Jones says. The concept took off once more.

Santa Barbara and Sint Maarten both feature a lively piano bar atmosphere, bringing in performers for weeks-long residencies, where they entertain nightly. And one night a week, the atmosphere changes slightly, with a blues band entertaining for “Church On Monday.”

Coming North

Jones credits the enthusiasm of a local fan with the impetus that resulted in a move to Traverse City. “A lady in Traverse City, Gretchen Knoblock, fell in love with the concept,” he says. She visited the Red Piano several times and suggested that Traverse City would be a great home for a Red Piano. “For 15 years she’s been sending us [property] listings. So we told her to stop drinking so much.”

Nevertheless, she persisted, and eventually Knoblock broke through their restraint when the lease came up for the property at Cass and Front. Great visibility, in the middle of downtown, and when Jones and Campbell looked seriously at the possibility, they believed it would work.

“I did all the numbers,” Jones says. “The demographic is similar, there’s a lot in common [between Santa Barbara and Traverse City]. It was an excellent opportunity.”

Beyond that, as his family grew, he sought to maximize the return. “I’ve got three boys. I
realized one Red Piano was not going to put three boys through college,” he jokes.

So the Red Piano is headed 2,500 miles east. Jones and company are in the midst of a buildout of the former Mackinaw Brewing Company (and before that, the Big Boy restaurant) in the historic Beadle Building on the northwest corner of Front and Cass Streets. “We love the building,” Jones says.

There’s one big change from the other Red Pianos: While the Santa Barbara and Sint Maarten locations don’t offer any food, the rules for acquiring the liquor license for the Traverse City location mandated there be some sort of food available.

Fortunately, there’s already an on-site kitchen. Jones says the menu will be limited, offering pub-style staples such as pizza and sandwiches, as he and the team remain focused on the piano bar concept. “It will be simple, no muss, no fuss.”

Moreover, he says the company is committed to having live music every night it is open, and the intention is to be open virtually every night of the year.

“We’ll see how the shoulder seasons go,” he says. “We’ll go through the year, see what it’s like, then plan for next year.” Weather can also play a role—in California they had to deal with fires and mudslides, so he’s wary of blizzards or other weather travails impacting Traverse City.

Opening for Summer

The hope was to open in spring of this year, but the inevitable building delays and a sudden shift in general contractors when their original contractor became ill has set that back.

“Our original goal was March 1, then April 1,” Jones notes. Neither of those came to fruition, and May 1 looks like a very long shot. Jones now says he is committed to opening by mid-June so he and the staff are ready to handle the summertime crowds.

“The hardest part right now is organizing the build-out,” he says. That includes stripping the inside back to the brick, removing and replacing the bar and moving the restroom in the back to enlarge the outdoor deck that overlooks the river and bay beyond.

It’s also been more of a challenge as Campbell has been on a once-in-a-lifetime sail around the world, and Jones has occasionally flown back to California to give the general manager at that location a break.

Despite all the hurdles and delays, Jones is convinced it will all be worth it. Once the Red Piano opens in Traverse City, he plans on showcasing high-quality entertainment and excitement nightly, regardless of the day or season. “It’s rock solid talent. It’s Vegas-level. They’ll fly in from around the country.

“I’ve been vetting it for 20 years. I’ve seen tons and tons of people, watched videos,” he continues. “We’ll bring in a couple and see how they fit. I’ve already got the first six months.”

Get to know The Red Piano vibes and stay tuned for updates at theredpiano.com.