CLUB SCENE Open and shut BY SAM PFEIFLE

Amidst swirling rumors, Free Street Taverna co-owner Steve Kessler confirmed on Monday that he was closing his bar that very same day, after a three-year run. He faced the specter of an expiring liquor license on September 15, two days later, and though "our original lease would have gotten us through October . . . there’s really no sense in spending the $5000 [for a license renewal] for 45 days."

"Three years doesn’t sound like a lot of time," he says of his feelings on closing the bar, "but three years is a long time when you live it. It’s sad. I’m definitely not happy."

That’s because building owner Ted Arcand (who also owns the Dogfish Café, on St. John and Congress) told Kessler he would not be renewing his lease, so that Arcand could put a restaurant/club in there himself. Both Kessler and Arcand say there are no hard feelings.

"Their lease runs to the end of October," confirms Arcand, "and at that point we’re going to take a look at the situation and we’ll probably put something in there ourselves."

Probably? When told Kessler planned to close shop on Monday, Arcand says, "at that point we might scramble around and get something in there, but we’re not going to get what we want in there for another six months or so."

So it’s definitely going to happen then?

"I’m not trying to be vague, I’m just not too sure what it’s going to be." Fair enough. Arcand does seem to have plenty of plans, though.

"Our goal eventually is to do live music seven days a week," he says, "and do the stuff that we’re doing at Dogfish . . . support the local artist scene, change up artists monthly. I don’t want to say we’re going to upscale, because I don’t want to disparage what’s in there now, but do what we do on a food level [at the Dogfish] at a reasonable price."

He says, "the ultimate goal, two three years out, is to have one of the premier places in town. What I see in Portland is that there’s not a lot of places where there’s a music venue that backs it up with good food."

For his part, Kessler, who will be staying on to help with the transition, understands Arcand’s plan. "It’s a great spot," he says. "I think it will be a good thing." Still, says Kessler, "I didn’t leave because I wanted to leave, so I kind of have some unfinished business. I’d love to do the same style club in a different building, with more backing, and a longer lease."

However, if he was looking at the old Clay City building at 551 Congress Street, he’s too late. General manager Aly Hodge (well, the whole Hodge family, from the looks of www.thewhiteheart.com) and booker John Althoff (of Lax Wax Touring, Dungeon Masters Guide Productions, and the band Conifer) have announced their plans to open the White Heart Bar and Lounge in that space, probably by late November. Look for live music and a "world famous jukebox."