RACINE — A native Racinian promises to bring an upscale restaurant and entertainment venue to one of Uptown’s more noteworthy buildings.

Gerald Bester hopes the third time will be a charm for 1501 Washington Ave. — first a failed nightclub called The Bank; then the notorious Vault nightclub. The latter attracted repeated trouble, including shootings, and numerous complaints during its brief life span.

The Vault’s record has caused some degree of alarm in Uptown, Bester said. “I’ve encountered a lot of naysayers who say that the restaurant is a cover-up, and that I’ll turn it into a hip-hop club — and that could not be further from the truth.”

Bester, 41, who will call his business Gerald’s, said he plans something entirely different. Bester is an independent trucking contractor operating as Dynamite 1 Trucking Co.

He said Tuesday that Gerald’s will be an upscale diner. “It’ll be two or three steps up from fast food, and maybe a step down from elegant dining.”

A restaurant heavyweight has been his project mentor, he said: Karl Kopp, president and owner of Kopp’s Frozen Custard restaurants and Elsa’s on the Park in Milwaukee. Kopp also has restaurants in New York, Phoenix and Scottsdale, Ariz. A receptionist at the Kopp’s corporate office confirmed that Kopp has been advising Bester.

Bester said the nonsmoking Gerald’s will be open for lunch and dinner every day but Sunday, about 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. He hasn’t yet decided whether to contract with outside chefs or have a chef on staff.

The music will include jazz, blues, rhythm and blues and soft rock, with live bands about once a month, Bester said. He vowed there will be no hip-hop, ever.

“This is not a hip-hop club,” he said. “I want no part of anything of that nature.”

Bester also said he will bring national acts to Gerald’s for Friday night comedy shows, inviting in different corporations’ employees and families each time.

Bester said he produces and promotes comedy acts all over the country but declined to name names. “Probably 99 percent are TV-credited comedians,” he said.

“Especially with comedians, I can pretty much have access to anybody out there.”

Because he is reaching for a “mature, sophisticated” customer base, Bester said no one under age 25 will be admitted to the shows.

The city’s commercial corridor specialist, Kristin Niemiec, said she thinks Bester deserves a chance. “I really think more activities in Uptown would be a great thing,” she said.

“We’ve got to give the guy a chance.”

Request going to commission

Gerald Bester’s conditional-use permit request to open Gerald’s goes before the City Plan Commission Wednesday for a public hearing at 4:30 p.m. in Room 301, City Hall, 730 Washington Ave.

City staff recommend the commission defer action until the Access Corridor Development Review Committee has made its recommendation.