For 38 years, Mickey Krivosh has been Mr. Around the Corner.

Friday, he's heading across the street to fulfill a lifelong dream. That's when the big, thick doors swing open to Vosh, expanding Krivosh's empire.

The 5,000-square-foot club -- 1414 Riverside Drive, Lakewood, 216-767-5202 -- will host live jazz, blues and Motown bands. It will boast an extensive beer list, more than 100 varieties, mostly craft beers. It will serve a menu of small plates, made next door at Georgetown (the old Three Birds locale that Krivosh purchased two years ago).

More than all that, Vosh is a labor of love that has occupied his mind since he purchased Around the Corner in 1975.

"I've had this idea in my head for years," says Krivosh. "I've always dreamed of this."

In dreams begin responsibilities, and in this case the responsibilities included a solid year of work.

"The last month, my entire family has been here seven days a week 10-12 hours a day," he says. "Look, we had to build this all from scratch."

Indeed, this was once a warehouse for Bonne Bell cosmetics.

"This space here used to be a truck dock," says Krivosh, surveying the main room. "None of this woodwork was here, none of the fixtures, nothing."

Much of it was at the Lakewood Country Club -- the rich oak, the doors, mirrors, tiles, even the fireplace.

"Look at that," he says pointing to a DETROIT sign he got from the Lakewood's old Detroit movie theater. "Most of this decor was purchased and brought in here."

The stage is new, and so is the concept -- even if the songs might be oldies.

"I've always loved Motown and have had so many people tell me they wish they could see it live," says Krivosh.

Vosh will open with Motown act Rumplestiltskin playing Friday and Saturday. There will even be Irish Motown band Shockwave on St. Paddy's Day. On Tuesday, Vosh will host Ernie Krivda's 17-piece jazz orchestra.

That might sound very ambitious, especially where the trend is heading toward walls of TV sets playing sports. But Krivosh has always prided himself on doing his own thing.

"I was the first guy to do karaoke, at Around the Corner, then I stopped when everyone started," he says. "I just think you have to do something different and the last thing I'd want to do with Vosh is copy Around the Corner."

Krivosh started the latter when he was 23. He had been working at Pirates Cove, in the pre-heyday of the Flats.

"I was wet behind the ears when I opened Around the Corner," he says. "But I had a lot of enthusiasm -- I worked seven days a week for 20 years at that place."

The idea of retiring was a nonstarter -- especially because he still had not done the club he'd always wanted.

"We have the entire family involved with this, so it's easier," he says, as his wife, Patty, son Ryan and cousin Matt all cleaned and worked around the club. "But it's just as exciting as it was to open Around the Corner. And this is the one I've always wanted to do."

Thirty years of rocking

Yes, they've been playing for 30 years. The repertoire of the Rockin' Ravers is enough to fill a truckload of jukeboxes -- six decades worth of rock and pop tunes, including entire sets of Beatles songs.

At 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, the Rockin' Ravers will celebrate their 30th anniversary how else? By playing -- at Doc & Louie's, 24280 Lorain Road, North Olmsted. Free. Call 440-734-0833.

Strike!

Poetry in a bowling alley? You bet. From 7 to 10 p.m. next Wednesday, March 20, Mahall's 20 Lanes in Lakewood will host its first "poetrymusic" festival, Mad Sing You. The event, organized by local poet Dan Smith, was inspired by the Beats of the 1950s and '60s. It will include jazz, experimental music, spoken word, acoustic guitar and much more. Mahall's is at 13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280.