Entrepreneurs RaeAnne and Zach Conat had spent 12 years developing and successfully growing their business “Swanky Sweet Pea”, selling it, and then opening the quirky “Swanky Gifts on Rainy” on main street in International Falls. After it was time to move on from Swanky Gifts, the Conat’s looked down the street and had the opportunity to lease the 1st level of the old Moose Lodge building. The space revealed the beauty and classic elements – exposed brick, lofty tin ceilings – that recalled an earlier time.
With music as their guiding passion, in 2023 they transformed the street level into the event space they named “The Salty Jester”. What’s behind the name? It was created by a name generator app that combined elements of theater, music, dark dim-lit ambiance, with a speak easy feel. The Salty Jester is often referred to as a “listening room” within the music community, garnering recognition from local and distant artists alike.
The allure and character of the restored building along with the distinctive ambience of the space set the lounge apart. It quickly filled a void within the community, particularly for live music enthusiasts that were looking for a more intimate setting. The Salty Jester lounge offers an eclectic “speak easy” setting for performances, accommodating 75 guests comfortably. Live entertainment graces the stage every weekend from September to May on Friday and Saturday nights.
“Music has always been the focal point of our lives and wanting to share this passion with others drove us to create this space,” said RaeAnne.
Shortly after opening and making connections, their presence on social media attracted established artists and performers seeking to showcase their talents at The Salty Jester. Its unique ambience, remarkable acoustics, and focus on the performance itself, create an unparalleled experience. While cocktails, truffle popcorn, and pizza by the slice complement the environment, the spotlight remains on the music.
Artists who perform at The Salty Jester have shared platforms with industry giants and are eager to bring their high caliber talents to the community. Being dubbed by many touring artists as “one of the most unique lounges out there”, The Salty Jester is becoming a favorite of performers near and far.
“We aspire to see more of the community seize the opportunity to witness such exceptional talent in the coming year. Audience attendance allows us to compensate our performers for their time, travel, and talent. The venue sustainability hinges not only on liquor and merchandise sales but mostly on attendance. Without grants or sponsors, attendance is how we are able to keep the doors open and offer these experiences, so we hope people recognize that and see the importance of their presence. Without our customers and those who love live music, we can’t exist,” emphasized RaeAnne.
“When we created The Salty Jester, there was nothing that offered a more private, intimate experience with artists, so that was our main focus. To be unique and do something that hasn’t been done already – that’s kind of my thing,” she added.
“It is heartwarming and reassuring you’re on the right track when people exit the lounge and say they are blown away by the fact that we have something like this in our quaint city way up north. We have people come week after week, because they just don’t want us to go anywhere. It is truly humbling and gives us inspiration to keep doing what we do. We are so thankful.”
You can check out all of the events for the upcoming season at www.thesaltyjester.com. If you are looking to host your own event, The Salty Jester offers private rentals as well. Another great way to show your support is to FOLLOW The Salty Jester on social media, share posts, or just simply tell a neighbor or friend about your experience and bring them along next time. You’ll find upcoming events, give aways, and up to date information on when they reopen starting September 7th, 2024. The Salty Jester is located at 321 3rd Street in the heart of downtown International Falls.
