Former Cincinnati Bengal Mike Martin is trying to open a downtown nightclub.

        Mr. Martin, 41, has his eyes on a vacated restaurant site on Walnut Street, just across from the Aronoff Center for the Arts. He hopes to gather a group of investors and start a “multicultural nightclub” sometime next year.

        “I think there's a lot of money to be had here. You just have to be creative,” said Mr. Martin, a wide receiver with the Bengals in 1983-90 who now runs his own special-events business.

        “It's my vision, and I'm going to have a strong hand in what happens.”

        Downtown Cincinnati Inc. is helping Mr. Martin look for a location, but he said the Walnut Street site is his first option.

        He wants to showcase jazz, rhythm-and-blues and Latin music, providing a place where African-Americans can feel welcome downtown.

        “You don't see a lot of us here,” Mr. Martin said. “Because I played ball and because I'm accepted by a lot of people, I don't have a problem. But I know a lot of people who just don't feel welcome.”

Economy on upswing?
Divine lays off Blue Ash employees
Tune-up needed for start-ups
Ohio State becomes home of soy bread
Union rejects company proposal
Industry notes: Manufacturing
What's the Buzz?