Dear Downtown Memphis Commission,

Court Square Recordings is a proposed recording studio and coffee shop on Court Square Park in downtown Memphis. Court Square Recordings, LLC, is a partnership between Stewart Cole, Che Stratte and myself, Samuel Aroutiounian.

I am the Managing Partner of Creative Talent Management, a talent agency based in Los Angeles, CA. Having produced many events throughout the world, I have worked with many international celebrities and musicians including Prince, Alicia Keys, Guns N’ Roses, Mariah Carey, Frank Ocean, Maroon 5, Wyclef Jean, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Robbie Williams, Buena Vista Social Club, Chicago, Diana Ross, Al Jarreau, Kings of Leon, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Toni Braxton, Black Eyed Peas, Paul Anka, Tom Jones, Flora Mardirosyan, Orlando Bloom, Liza Minnelli, Monica Bellucci, Goldie Hawn, Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron, Sharon Stone, Whoopie Goldberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Milla Jovovich, John Travolta, Kurt Russell, Helen Mirren, Vincent Cassell, Richard Gere, Andy García, Gloria Gaynor, Rod Stewart, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joe Cocker, Erykah Badu, Seal, and Jennifer Lopez, among many others.

I have also been involved in many charitable projects including producing Mikhail Gorbachev’s “The Man Who Changed the World” award ceremony in London's Royal Albert Hall, for which I received recognition from President Gorbachev. As part of this charitable event, I produced with Paul Anka and Andrey Makarevich the song, “The Man Who Changed the World,” which was performed alongside The Scorpions and the London Symphony Orchestra.

At a young age, I was a modeling scout for Elite Model Management, which took me around the U.S. searching for models and talent. While scouting, I had the chance to be in Memphis multiple times, including searches at the Peabody Hotel. I always enjoyed these trips and I fell in love with the city, the energy, the history of music, the people, and the genuine Memphian vibe and community. I know this region has outstanding talent from which I wish to help discover and nurture future artists.

Nathan “Che” Stratte is a talented young musician whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with since 2016. He was a straight-A student in high school and studied abroad in Keble College, Oxford University in England as a music and mathematics major before deciding to pursue his own path in music. He has since worked in multiple coffee shops as a barista and helped run The Rocket Bakery’s downtown location in his hometown, Spokane, WA. As a musician, Nathan has toured as a lead guitar player and singer for the band Mr. Mother and as a guitar/keyboard player for solo act Anthony Hall. He is currently working on his new band, The Electric Flowers, which has their first release in November 2019.

Existing architecture:

Existing architecture:

Proposed architecture:

Proposed architecture:

Proposed architecture:

Sources and Uses Statement

Sources:

Amount of Exterior Improvement Grant funding requested: $31,981 50%

Amount of matching funds Creative Talent Management is providing: $31,981 50%

Total: $63,962 100%

Uses: Exterior improvements include creation of steel, aluminum, and glass storefront entrance with rolling overhead windows and art deco treated wood panels, New York neon artist Mariko Makino’s handwritten neon sign, outdoor furniture, replacement of four rear exterior windows, addition of garden, design fees

Mobilization, demo, & clean up $2000 3%

Facade demo & new storefront $23,206 36%

Indoor/outdoor storefront bar $3500 5%

Neon Sign Design, artist fee $3000 5%

White Neon Sign Fabrication $7000 11% New windows (south elevation) $14,710 23%

Exterior deck (south elevation) $3000 5%

Outdoor lighting (south elevation) $1500 2%

Architectural Design Fees $3000 5%

Contingency (5%) $3046 5%

Total $63,962 100%

Exterior Start date: September 10, 2019 Exterior Completion date: November 22, 2019