McALLEN, TX (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — La Villa Real Special Events Center in McAllen, Texas, is closing its doors after 29 years as the premiere music venue in the Rio Grande Valley, to make way for a new Harley-Davidson showroom.
Arnaldo “Nano” Ramirez Jr., the owner, operator and promoter since the venue opened in December 1977, sold the venue to the motorcycle company because he is ready to pursue other interests, at the age of 60.
“It’s difficult, but after all of these years I think I’m finally ready to move on,” Ramirez told South Texas’ The Monitor. “But when you get an offer you can’t refuse, you’ve got to take it.”
The venue has hosted the likes of Juan Gabriel, Santana, Juanes, Metallica, Carlos Guzmán, Augustín Ramirez, Freddie Martinez, Kenny Chesney and Carlos Mencia over the years.
Ramirez plans to continue promoting concerts in the area, focusing on the Dodge Arena in Hidalgo, the future McAllen Civic Center and the Rio Grande Livestock Show, with his Book’Em Nano promotions company. He also has plans for a brand new, 70,000-square-foot concert venue, with 4,000-plus capacity, to be built in the McAllen metro area sometime within in the next year.
“Maybe that’s what’s getting my mind off the sale,” he joked, after mentioning that closing the venue was like losing a family member. “Just because I’m selling La Villa Real, doesn’t mean I don’t have projects ahead.” –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
