The Music Mill, a local concert venue, restaurant and bar that has been closed down twice this year by different operators, has new life.

Local entrepreneur Ravi Chopra, 44, who owns the 6 Lounge & Restaurant downtown, announced last night that he has purchased the Music Mill and plans to reopen the north-side Indianapolis facility as a concert and event venue Oct. 12.

Chopra envisions the Music Mill being a true multi-use hospitality facility that can host a workshop in the morning, corporate and networking luncheons at noon and a live music or comedy show in the evening.

The Music Mill, located at 3720 E. 82nd St. in the Clearwater Crossing shopping plaza, will host a job fair Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in order to find employees, including managers, restaurant and event staff, and administrative support staff. Chopra plans to employ more than 100 people. 

The concert facility first opened in 2005, providing a mid-sized venue for local and national talent. Former majority owner Nick Davidson and business partners Ron Schiffli and Jack Shockman closed the business in late February, saying the sour economy had taken a toll.

Jeremy “Hoss” Tevebaugh signed a contract to buy the Music Mill in April and reopened the venue April 17. Two months later, it closed again. Commercial real estate broker John Beouy said Tevebaugh defaulted on his rental agreement with locally based The Broadbent Co., which owns the building.

Chopra said he bought the business from Davidson’s group for an undisclosed amount and signed a 13-year lease with Broadbent.

Formerly a Discovery Zone children's amusement center, the 700-person concert venue has about 15,000 square feet of meeting space.

Chopra is optimistic he can make the business successful, despite the previous failed attempts.

“I understand that there are some naysayers,” Chopra said. “If I could build a music venue from the ground up, I would build the Music Mill. It just needs a little love. It needs operators who eat, breath and sleep it.”

Chopra also owns a landscaping company in California. His 6 Lounge opened on South Meridian Street in April 2005. Chopra said he now spends the majority of his time in Indianapolis.