Last week SouthBMore.com received a tour of the new site for Hammerjacks, a large music venue and club planned for the Stadium Area of South Baltimore. Hammerjacks originally announced a $20 million new-construction project for the club at Lot N by M&T Bank Stadium, but as the city was studying the impacts to the adjacent Carroll-Camden Industrial Area to change the zoning at the property, a better opportunity came about.

Hammerjacks, led by Kevin Butler, President and CEO of the Hammerjacks Entertainment Group (HEG) and a lifelong Anne Arundel County resident, will formally announce the location of the new club to the public at a media event in October, but it is at an existing vacant building in the area that has the zoning needed to move forward for live entertainment and the construction plans. Butler and his team secured a deal to develop the property last month and hope to begin construction in the near future.

The new location will feature a 2,500-person concert area that can be modified down for smaller shows, a club/sports bar area that will feature smaller 300-person live music shows, and an outdoor courtyard area. Butler told SouthBMore.com he has been contacted by several national entertainment companies interested in booking shows at Hammerjacks. The development team is also looking to create additional retail spaces in the development.

Lots H and J at M&T Bank Stadium are a tribute to the former Hammerjacks music venue that once stood at its second and most popular location at 1101 S. Howard St. Hammerjacks original location was at 1024 S. Charles St. in Federal Hill, the current home of Nobles Bar and Grill, and a later version opened at 316 Guilford Ave. downtown. Butler was unaffiliated with either of the previous three locations, but obtained the rights to the Hammerjacks trademark in 2009.

Hammerjacks’ heyday was from 1987 to 1990 when it garnered the title of one of VH1’s Top 5 rock venues. Butler was there for many shows in that era, seeing Guns N’ Roses, The Ramones, L.A. Guns, Warrant, Joan Jett, KIX, and more. “Hammerjacks was so popular that bands like Journey and Def Leppard would hang out there when they were in town for bigger shows,” said Butler. Iron Maiden even had a picture of Hammerjacks in their record sleeve at one point, Butler noted.

MTV and VH1 area expected to attend Hammerjacks October announcement.

To honor Hammerjacks’ former glory, Butler told SouthBMore.com that a large dedication piece with pictures and items from the old venue will be well represented and that they are definitely planning some 1980s events. While honoring its roots, the new Hammerjacks will be a venue for all genres of music.

Butler is very excited about the future of the area, “In one area you are going to have a world-class baseball stadium, a world-class football stadium, a world-class casino and, now, a world-class concert venue.” Butler has developed a good relationship with Caesars Entertainment (Horseshoe Baltimore) and believes the public will soon see many new taverns and developments joining them in the area as well.

Here are some sneak peek pictures of the new building which will be redeveloped:

About the Author: Kevin Lynch Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, beach volleyball enthusiast, dog lover, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, beach volleyball enthusiast, dog lover, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin