Quincy Square – an entertainment venue ten years in the making – formally opened in downtown Bremerton last weekend, featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony, top-rated Northwest live music, and an array of food vendors.

The $5.5-million revitalization project is aimed at transforming 4th Street into a vibrant arts and entertainment mecca, which will attract local residents and additional tourists to the city. Acclaimed record producer and composer Quincy Jones is the namesake of the project, who spent his youth in Bremerton.

The well-attended two-day grand opening was put on by the Downtown Bremerton Association in partnership with the city of Bremerton.

Attendees strolled over giant piano keys embedded in the street; the black and white keys are said to be large enough to be seen from space. People also viewed a colorful mural commemorating Jones. Kid-friendly, interactive musical instruments were scattered throughout Quincy Square, including a xylophone, chimes, and percussion instruments.

Powerhouse soul singer Grace Love and noted jazz vocalist Eugenie Jones, both Northwest artists, performed at the square’s new outdoor bandstand. The permanent stage will be a dedicated space for community performances, open mics and other artistic events, per officials.

The Roxy Theatre glistened at the celebration. The Art Deco venue, considered to be the main stage of Quincy Square, was the site of a pre-grand opening tribute concert June 28, titled “For the Love of Quincy” and attended by 20 family members of Jones.

A colorful mural honoring Jones was a backdrop to the debut of Quincy Square. The wall painting, located at the northwest corner of 4th Street and Washington Avenue, is said to be inspired by Jones’ distinctive scarves. The mural spotlights Jones and notable artists he worked with, including Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. Several esteemed local Black pioneers are also featured.

A series of Black Night Market booths were set up at the event, where BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) vendors offered products and food.

“We are turning a new page for the future of downtown Bremerton,” said Jessica Combs, executive director of the Downtown Bremerton Association. “It’s spaces like this that are really a catalyst for revitalizing our sleepy town of Bremerton and shining a bright light on it.”

Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler said the long-awaited kickoff of Quincy Square is a testament to the efforts of many.

“It’s the culmination of years of community, government and leadership groups working together, working through challenges, like the pandemic and supply chain issues, to get to this point. There’s nothing we can’t accomplish when we work together, have a clear vision and a will to get things done. It’s a phenomenal feeling,” he said.

Wheeler envisions the public plaza being a platform for a wide array of events.

“It’ll be an outdoor entertainment venue designed for people to come together. The focus of certain events might be food, dance, literary, and some might be visual arts, like sculptures and painting. Obviously, music will probably always be part of the showcase,” he said.

In addition to providing entertainment to Kitsap Peninsula residents, Wheeler said the plaza will be an economic driver for Bremerton by attracting more tourists to the city.

“The one-of-a-kind outdoor performing arts venue will be transformational. It will be a draw. People will want to come here to see the art, to experience the entertainment, and be part of it. This will be on their travel itineraries when coming to Seattle. I foresee (Quincy Square) being like Seattle, a global destination,” the mayor said.

There is consideration being given to closing the festival street on weekends to make the square pedestrian-friendly, Combs said. She hopes to see the space activated year-round.

“I’ve had several conversations to do really cool and creative activations in Quincy Square, including bringing back the Bremerton beer festival and collaborating with organizations in the community like the West Sound Film Festival,” she said.

With Bremerton being an official fan zone of the World Cup next year, Combs said she wants to bring the World Cup experience to downtown Bremerton.

Financing for the plaza came from $2.5 million of federal funding, $1.75 million from the state and over $800,000 from the city. The Bremerton Rotary Club raised $100,000 to construct a bandstand outside the Roxy.

Honoring Jones

Fourth Street was rebranded as Quincy Square to honor Jones, the Grammy Award-winning musician. He was also an arranger and producer who worked with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin and pop icons Celine Dion and Michael Jackson. Jones planned to attend the venue’s opening, but he passed away last November.

In 1943, Jones’ family came to Kitsap County so his father could work at the shipyard. They lived in “Sinclair Heights,” a segregated housing project located in what is now West Hills. During his early years, Jones played tuba and trumpet at Coontz Junior High in Bremerton.

Appearing on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” Jones recounted how, during his mischievous youth here, he was introduced to the piano.

At age 11, he and some pals broke into the local National Guard Armory to gobble down lemon meringue pies and ice cream. After eating the sweets, the boys got into a food fight. Eventually, Jones walked into an office and saw a piano for the first time.

When he touched the keyboard, Jones told Colbert, “Every cell in my body said this is what you’re going to do the rest of your life.”

The 91-year-old legend went on to produce the record-setting Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album and direct the popular “We Are the World” single. Jones racked up 80 Grammy Award nominations and 28 Grammys.

A finishing tribute to music icon will come later in the summer when a bronze sculpture of Jones is unveiled on 4th Street.

Finn Lauderdale, 4, of Bremerton (left) jams with Ian Davis, 5, of Kingston on a streetside xylophone.

Quincy Square debuts on 4th Street in downtown Bremerton July 12.