East Delta Avenue in Moorhead is going to be hopping tomorrow night.
The friends, family and patrons that have supported Joe Holland and the Southern Comfort Blues Lounge will pay tribute to the club’s long time owner, as he prepares to pass the business to a new generation.
Elijah Love, Holland’s business partner and friend, has planned a big party for the proprietor, who is retiring this year.
Love and Holland met when they were working together at Mississippi Valley State University, Holland said.
“We used to get lunch just about every day,” Holland said. “I got to know the young man really well.”
The two have been operating the business together since last July, and Holland said the time has come to let it go.
Holland has owned and operated the 1018 East Delta Ave. spot off and on for the better part of two decades.
“I guess I bought the club in November of 1998, but I had my first New Year in ’99,” Holland said.
He gave up the business once before in 2010, but Love convinced him to reopen the establishment last year.
Love said the club had remained open after 2010 but eventually closed under the interim ownership.
“It had closed for a while,” Love said. “It ended up going back to Joe. We had a long talk about going back into business together. He said I was the only one that could make him get back in the club.”
Open Thursday-Sunday from 8:30 p.m. until 1 a.m., Love said Southern Comfort is the place to be for great music, a cold drink and even a good cigar.
It’s been that way for quite a few decades. No one really knows when the first club was opened at the spot, but Holland said he can remember it being open when he was 12 years old. He’s 64 today.
Over the years, the lounge has gained a reputation as a drama-free and clean spot folks can come to hang out. Holland said he believes Love will continue in that tradition.
“I think I’ve found me a good man who will uphold the standard of the place,” Holland said.
Love said the clean image of the club is what appealed to him.
“People come here to let their hair down from a long week of work,” Love said. “They can have a cold beer and listen to music.”
Love said he also wants to help keep the Blues alive through the club.
“When people come here to visit the B.B. King Museum, I want the Southern Comfort Blues Lounge to be the next stop,” Love said.
Love also said he would like to expand the business to serve food with the drinks.
As for the party this week, Love plans to send Holland out with a bang. He has six guest DJs coming to the all-nighter.
“It’s going to be a real party,” Love said. “We’re going to bring out everybody who took the ride with Joe.”
Holland said he’s ready to give up the night life, but he’s got one more to go before shutting off the lights for the final time.
When he does, the club will be in the hands of Love.
“He’s very excited about it,” Holland said. “He’s going to do well.”
