The Stumble Inn 1974-1986
Once home to the Tucson chapter of the American Red Cross, the building at 136 N. Park Ave. opened as The Stumble Inn tavern in 1974. The Inn was a hot spot for country swing, hosting free dance lessons and local acts like the Dusty Chaps and Chuck Wagon and the Wheels. By the early 1980s the venue changed focus and welcomed in touring artists from the punk group Suicidal Tendencies to Los Lobos.
Scarlett's 1986-1987
Scarlett's, called Scarlett's Stumble Inn for a short time, was Tucson's answer to the "MTV Generation" of the late 1980s. Owner Liz Bellomo hoped to attract college students interested in music from artists like The Cult, The Smiths and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The dance club lasted about nine months.
Mudbuggs 1987-1991
Mudbuggs, perhaps the building's most popular incarnation, began as a high-end club with Cajun cuisine, but quickly reverted back to a live music venue. Under the direction of owner Mark P. Oliver, who helped bring in shows for the Stumble Inn, Mudbuggs hosted a slew of popular jazz, rock, blues, funk and country acts, including Leo Kottke, the Tragically Hip, Concrete Blonde and Marcia Ball.
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Palm Rock 1991-1992
Palm Rock shied away from live music. It started as a brightly lit sports bar complete with a boxing ring that doubled as a dance floor. It included basketball hoops, video games, pools tables, live DJs and big-screen televisions. Once that failed to take off, the owners dropped "Palm" from the name and changed it back into a concert venue.
The Rock 1992-present
The Rock continued to show live acts, artists ranging from Big Head Todd and the Monsters and The Pharcyde to Ben Folds and Billy Joe Shaver, even as it cycled through a series of owners. Kent Van Stelle, who had owned the Rock for a couple of years in the late 1990s, took it back in 2003 and shifted its focus to local, all-ages shows. It continues to bring in a steady, mostly 21-and-under crowd.
