The Pressroom arts venue downtown is under new leadership, leading to its renovation and a new mission statement for the long-standing building.
New owners Jason Charles, owner of Latest Craze Productions, and Narender Raju, owner of RSVP Special Events LLC, see their contributions to The Pressroom as them “recreating the space.” The pair acquired a liquor license, installed a new visual and audio system, brought in chairs and couches, and essentially made it what they call a “livable” and “modular” venue that can be adjusted and customized based on what the act performing is looking for.
Yet the new arts venue, located between Fourth and Fifth avenues on Madison Street, wasn’t always under steady operation.
In the 1960s Jerry and Helen Wisotsky built Phoenix’s first large-scale print shop, Imperial Litho/Graphics. Once they grew old, their daughter Pearle and her husband Malcolm Marr took over the business.
Over time, Imperial Litho/Graphics was sold and over 500,000 square feet of residential, office and retail space sat empty. Marr wanted a 14,000 square foot building in the plaza, dubbed “The Pressroom” because of its printing press, to live on. Marr began renting out the space as a venue for parties, meetings and other events.
Charles and Raju approached Marr about six months ago with intentions to revamp The Pressroom.
“He was pretty content running it by himself, but he met us and realized this is who he wanted running the future of The Pressroom,” Charles said. “We’re still keeping the feel of the original printing press from back in the day, so he’s been excited to see how we modernize this and bring it to the masses.”
Raju and Charles consider themselves “seasoned professionals” and have worked together for a long time, crossing paths in the nightclub- and event-planning industries. They had been on the lookout for a venue that was historic, had plenty of space, good parking and was up to construction codes. The pair also wanted a location that was structurally ready so that they could focus on updating its aesthetic and technology.
“At the end of the day, we want to put on a good-quality show where people come and see that the production level is good, they get good drinks and they get good food,” Raju said.
The Pressroom is about a 15-minute walk away from the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus, where Raju wants to target the growing number of ASU students living downtown.
“ASU students are all around us and we want them here to have a good time. Our goal is to provide the students with an experience,” Raju said.
Raju and Charles said they hope to attract a crowd who come knowing that they will have a special experience and not just for the specific show itself. It is this aspect that makes them think that The Pressroom is unlike the other venues in Phoenix.
Some of The Pressroom’s closest neighbors are the Maricopa County Fourth Avenue Jail and the Maricopa County Treasurer’s Office. Charles and Raju see this as an ideal location because of the lack of noise restrictions.
“I feel more safe in this area than in any other space in Phoenix,” Charles said. “We don’t have to deal with noise restrictions when our neighbors are all city, county and state (owned) properties that close at 5 p.m.”
In addition, Raju and Charles see a lot of growth coming to the downtown area within the next five years.
Some, but not all, of The Pressroom’s events will be for ages 21 and above. However, part of the venue’s attempt to appeal to a large audience is through an array of different events, which the owners hope will bring in different demographics.
Taylor Place resident and digital culture, arts and design emphasis freshman Audra Carlisle said she is involved in the Phoenix music scene and is happy to see another venue downtown.
“Phoenix has a lot of really great venues, and it’s great to add to that because there are always shows to be held and places to go,” she said. “Twenty-one-and-up shows kind of marginalize the music world and the music scene … so the more chances you have to get yourself out to see music and live shows, the better because it’s a really important thing to be able to build culture in yourself and around you.”
The event that kicked off the new ownership was called “Fever,” a live music, dance comedy and circus art performance put on by performance group Scandalesque. The Valentine’s Day event was sold out and brought in 21- through 75-year-olds, Charles said.
“Honestly, we’re not here to compete,” Raju said. “We’re here to fill a void. … We’re not really interested in competition, but just adding to the vibe and really creating more of a fun atmosphere.”
Scandalesque has shows running at The Pressroom through the end of March. On Thursday, March 6, The Pressroom and promoter Danny Zelisko will host a free event for the community, although those under 21 must attend with a legal guardian. Sara Robinson and the Midnight Special, Paul Gurvitz and The Burning of Rome will perform starting at 7 p.m.
Editor’s Note: Audra Carlisle is a former Downtown Devil contributing reporter. She did not contribute to the reporting or editing of this story.
Contact the reporter at Kelsey.Hess@asu.edu
