The Regent Street Retreat will soon transform into the Red Zone, a sports bar with a strong focus on Badger athletics.
It's been a year of change for Madison music venues. Country stars Rascal Flatts announced plans to bring a 14,000-square-foot restaurant and venue to the area by 2014, the Harmony Bar will have a new owner come Labor Day, and now the Regent Street Retreathas changed hands as well.
Last week Richard Booy, Patricia Gehler, Rick Imhoff and former Stadium Bar manager Ryan Hoelker took the reins from Bruce Gerhartz, who helmed the campus-area business for three decades. With the ownership transfer comes a new name and format for the tavern, but live music will still be on the menu.
The Regent Street Retreat will soon transform into the Red Zone, a sports bar with a strong focus on Badger athletics. Imhoff told the Wisconsin State Journal that he wants to transform the multi-room space into one large room with "a bunch of bling" and plenty of touring acts. His own band, Falcon, plan to perform at the Regent Street Retreat Stage this weekend.
