You Can Ante Up Some Green for the Blues in Oakland

Two Oakland men are no longer singing the blues club sellers’ blues.

Louis KeeSee and Mike Fiorio, co-owners of the Oakland blues club Your Place Too, gave up trying to sell their business through a broker and came up with an idea to beat the band--an essay contest.

One lucky essay writer will inherit the business--including its name, reputation, liquor license, booze in stock, equipment, customer list and musician contacts.

Entrants have to plunk down a $100 entry fee and write a two-page essay beginning, “I would be the best new owner for the blues club because . . .”

The building and land aren’t included in the deal, so the winner will have to work out terms with the landlord.

KeeSee, 62, and Fiorio, 41, came up with their plan after hearing about a similar contest held by a San Jose-area coffee shop.

Florio said he hopes to receive 1,000 entries by Sept. 1. The initial field will be narrowed to 25, then to five, by a panel of judges. A winner will be announced by Oct. 1.

“We want to find the right person to carry on what is very rich tradition,” Florio said. “You raise a child for 15 years, you’re going to want to have some say in who she marries.”

A home for local blues and funk acts, Your Place Too has expanded its bookings to include more modern acts.

But after 13 years in the business, Florio and his partner agreed it was time to bow out.

Florio, an attorney by day, said he and his wife wanted to spend more time with their 15-month-old daughter.

KeeSee, who is diabetic, said his age and bad health caught up with him.

“I’m losing sight in one eye and my body is just breaking down. My doctor told me that I need to get away from the smoke-filled club and settle down,” KeeSee said.