DULUTH — The Jade Fountain will close April 4, owner Kai Soderberg
Friday. The cocktail bar and entertainment venue
under Soderberg’s ownership in 2020, after a previous decades-long run as a Chinese restaurant.
“The clientele I found at the Jade Fountain was the best I’ve ever dealt with,” said Soderberg, a longtime hospitality professional. “Creative, ambitious people that wanted to culturally enhance Duluth.”
Soderberg is pivoting to Superior, where he bought the Boston Block building in 2024. Opening later this spring with retail and office space, the Boston Block will ultimately include a bar and entertainment venue.
“From a business standpoint, what’s happening in Superior is a lot more viable for me, for my team,” Soderberg told the News Tribune.
Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group file photo
The Jade Fountain developed a reputation as an under-the-radar gem of Duluth’s nightlife, where its rejuvenated decor created a distinctive atmosphere. Musicians and independent artists were well-represented among the venue’s clientele, there for everything from DJ parties to art experiences.
“We’re really going to miss having them across the street, because they’ve been great neighbors,” said Zenith Bookstore owner
“It’s such a unique spot and, more than other bars, a destination for people.”
Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune file photo
After considering a career in community development, Soderberg said, he “decided to maintain my work in hospitality … knowing that my ultimate goal would be to tie in community development with hospitality. The Jade Fountain was a way to do that.”
The Jade Fountain was originally established in 1968 by restaurateur George Wong. The restaurant’s ownership later changed, and in 2015, it was
to the owners of the adjacent Gannucci’s Italian Market.
Gannucci’s was
in 2021, and two years later, owner William Kalligher was
a six-year prison sentence for sexually abusing a child. The Jade Fountain’s current landlord, Soderberg said, is Kalligher’s son Joshua Kalligher. According to the terms of his sentence, William Kalligher will become eligible for supervised release in 2027.
Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group file photo
Soderberg aims to open the Boston Block with retail and office space in April. A bar and entertainment venue, as well as overnight stay accommodations, are planned for after additional work on the building is complete.
“I didn’t necessarily know when I was opening the Jade that I was going to be opening (an entertainment) venue like that,” Soderberg said. “We’re going to be doing the same thing, but on a bigger scale, in Superior.”
Meanwhile, the Jade Fountain is booked with its regular schedule of events through April 4. Soderberg said it’s been meaningful to see how “kindred spirits” have been drawn to the venue, “like moths coming to a light.”
Arts and entertainment reporter Jay Gabler joined the Duluth News Tribune in 2022. His previous experience includes eight years as a digital producer at The Current (Minnesota Public Radio), four years as theater critic at Minneapolis alt-weekly City Pages, and six years as arts editor at the Twin Cities Daily Planet. He’s a co-founder of pop culture and creative writing blog The Tangential; he’s also a member of the National Book Critics Circle and the Minnesota Film Critics Association. You can reach him at [email protected] or 218-409-7529.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.duluthnewstribune.com ’
