Buffett opens Middleton 'Paradise"

Singer headlines charity event at restaurant

By JIM HOEHN
hoehn@journalinteractive.com

Posted: Jan. 14, 2004

Middleton - Mix one tropical troubadour and a couple hundred fanatical followers with a cold Wisconsin evening, and the end result was a huge boost toward housing for needy families.

Jimmy Buffett, the man from Margaritaville, set aside his well-known penchant for warm-weather locales for a nine-song set as part of a charity event Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of the new Cheeseburger In Paradise restaurant in the Greenway Station complex.

The Madison-area restaurant, named after the well-known Buffett song of the same name, is the third in a new chain that is a partnership between Outback Steakhouse, Inc. and Margaritaville holdings. The other two locations are Indianapolis and the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove, Ill.

The evening, billed as "Welcome to Paradise," was a benefit for Habitat for Humanity of Dane County.

"This was by far the best fund-raiser we've ever had," said Steve Millar, president of the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity of Dane County. "We know it's at least $65,000 ... probably between $65,000 and $70,000. There's still some auction items to be counted."

Tickets for the sold-out event were $250 each, said Millar, adding that one pair of tickets sold at auction for $4,700 and another pair for $3,200.

"I thought it was great," said Paul Osan, president of the Milwaukee Area Parrothead Association, who made the 95-mile trip with his wife, Pat. "I've heard they're eventually going to open another one in the Milwaukee area. I can't wait."

Buffett, who normally tours with the Coral Reefer Band, sat in with Johnny Russler & The Beach Bum Band, an Illinois group that also played at the opening of the Downers Grove restaurant.

"We were a lot less nervous this time around," said Mark Pelczarski, the steel drum player for the Beach Bum Band, who played about an hour set before being joined on stage by Buffett (he arrived about 40 minutes later than expected). "I just came from Nashville where we're putting the finishing touches on the new album," said Buffett, dressed in a white shirt and blue jeans. "It's called Conchy-Tonk. What do you expect? Something literate?"

Buffett, who joked about the lack of rehearsal time with the local band, blew through the seven-song set of mostly familiar songs and plenty of scattered references to Wisconsin in general, and Madison in particular.

"Normally, you don't see this many clothes on at Alpine Valley," Buffett joked, "except for that one year when it was about 40 . But 40'd look pretty good about now."

Buffett played a few favorites, including "Boat Drinks," "Son Of A Son Of A Sailor," "Why Don't We Get Drunk," the expected "Cheeseburger In Paradise" and the obligatory "Margaritaville." He added a version of "It's 5 O'clock Somwhere," his recent award-winning country duet with Alan Jackson.

Outside the glass garage-door walls of the Key West-styled restaurant, which will open onto a patio in warm weather, about two dozen ticketless, hearty, Parrotheads held court, sporting a mixture of stocking hats and tropical shirts over insulated clothing.

During "Cheeseburger In Paradise," Buffett invited three women on stage as honorary Reeferettes to help with the chorus - including one of the women from outside.

Along the way, Buffett displayed the audience charisma and stage patter often swallowed up on the large-venue summer tours, acknowledging the long-standing unwavering support of fans, some who were standing within a foot of the stage.

"Life's pretty good these days thanks to you Parrotheads," said Buffett, who also owns the Margaritaville Cafe chain of restaurants.

Following his set, Buffett briefly signed autographs in front of the stage and then again outside for several of those who braved the elements on the patio.

The charity auction afterwards brought in several thousand dollars for Habitat for Humanity, Millar said.

"We can build one house in Dane County and two more in a foreign country," he said.