Located in the heart of downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club is a premier live music venue, restaurant, and event destination housed inside the beautifully restored 1905 YMCA building at 135 Congress Street.

Opened in September 2021 by brothers Michael and Peter Labrie, Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club combines historic architecture, world-class acoustics, exceptional dining, and unforgettable live performances in an intimate listening-room environment.

The venue underwent more than four years of meticulous restoration and redevelopment, preserving original architectural elements including exposed brick, stained glass windows, wooden beams, fireplaces, and historic steel trusses while integrating state-of-the-art sound, lighting, and production technology.

Today, Jimmy’s welcomes internationally acclaimed jazz, blues, soul, and contemporary artists to Portsmouth, NH, attracting music lovers from across New England and beyond.
Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club also offers a New Englang-inspired dining experience, handcrafted cocktails, curated wines, private events, weddings, and cultural programming within one of Portsmouth’s most iconic historic buildings.

1878

The landmark building at 141 Congress Street boasts a rich heritage that dates back two centuries. Located near the corner of Congress Street and Maplewood Avenue, the property was originally home to William Henry Young Hackett, a prominent 19th-century lawyer, banker, and politician who lived on the site for over fifty years after arriving in Portsmouth in 1822.

In 1878, Hackett generously bequeathed his large Congress Street estate to the YMCA. As the turn of the century approached, plans emerged to construct a new, modern facility to better serve the community. The original Hackett mansion was relocated, and Boston architect Walter J. Paine was brought on to design the striking historic building that now anchors the neighborhood.

1905

When the building at 135 Congress Street first opened its doors as the Portsmouth YMCA, it was envisioned as a grand civic center for the downtown community. Crafted with classic brick-and-beam construction, the structure quickly became a local landmark, distinguished by its soaring gymnasium, elegant stained-glass elements, and prominent bay windows looking out over Congress Street.

The 1905 structure holds a unique place in local engineering history as the very first building in Portsmouth to utilize structural steel, portions of which have been intentionally left exposed today to showcase its sturdy metal skeleton. In a nod to its athletic heritage, the original mezzanine-level running track from the old YMCA—where 33 laps once equaled a mile—has been meticulously preserved and inlaid directly into the new flooring.

1996  

Sake Japanese Restaurant opened on the street level of the building and became a beloved downtown destination for more than 20 years. The restaurant helped keep the historic property active and vibrant during a new chapter in Portsmouth’s restaurant scene.  

2017–2021  

Over the next four-plus years, the Labrie brothers led an extensive historic restoration and redevelopment of the building. Their vision was ambitious — to create one of the premier jazz and blues clubs in the world while honoring the building’s original character and Portsmouth’s architectural history.  

Working with architects, artisans, acoustical engineers, and craftspeople, the project carefully restored many of the building’s defining features, including:  

Re-creating the original 1905 bay windows using historic photographs   

Preserving the original brick walls, wooden beams, fireplaces, and stained glass   

Adding a modern glass-and-steel rear addition filled with natural light  

Today  

Today, Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club stands as both a restored historic landmark and a modern cultural destination in the heart of Portsmouth. More than a century after the building first opened, 135 Congress Street continues to bring people together — through music, food, art, and shared experience.  

Music Was Always Part of the Vision

Long before Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club became a reality, music had already played a defining role in the lives of brothers Michael and Peter Labrie.

Growing up on the Seacoast, the brothers developed a deep appreciation for live music, performance, and the experience of bringing people together through hospitality and entertainment. That passion continued throughout their careers and ultimately became the foundation for Jimmy’s.

Michael Labrie, a longtime saxophone player and live music enthusiast, spent years immersed in both music and technical theater. His background included lighting design, concert production, and presenting live performances for nationally touring artists — experiences that helped shape his understanding of what makes a truly exceptional performance venue.

For Michael, Jimmy’s was designed not simply as a concert hall, but as a true “listening room” — a space where acoustics, atmosphere, architecture, and audience connection all work together to elevate the live music experience.

Peter Labrie shared that same passion for music and hospitality through years of restaurant development and community involvement across the Seacoast. Together, the brothers envisioned a venue where world-class musicians could perform in an intimate setting that honored both the artists and the audience.

Their shared love for jazz and blues became the driving force behind the creation of Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club — a venue built by music lovers, for music lovers.

Naming Jimmy’s: A Family Legacy

At its heart, Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club is a tribute to family legacy. The venue is named in honor of two foundational figures: James Labrie, the eldest son of five brothers, and his father, James “Jim” Labrie. Their shared spirit and values shaped the vision for what the club has become today. Jimmy’s stands as a world-class home for live music and community right in the heart of Portsmouth.

(Pictured from left to right are James Jr., Peter, their father James “Jim”, and Michael.)