Blues fans are welcoming back an old friend.

The legendary Checkerboard Lounge is reopening its doors in a new neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side.

The Checkerboard Lounge on 43rd Street in Bronzeville once hosted blues and rock legends like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and the Rolling Stones

But in the ‘90’s, the legendary bar fell into disrepair. It closed in 2003.

Now with the financial help of the University of Chicago, blues musicians will be playing under the Checkerboard banner once again. This time, in Hyde Park.

Owner L.C. Thurman says though the club has moved, it hasn’t lost its roots.

“I want it to be the same,” Thurman says. “I don’t want nothing to change any. When you come in here, you’ll get the same atmosphere. You’ll get the same music you had down there. Ain’t nothing gonna change. We gonna handle it.”

The Checkerboard will host an opening Thursday night featuring the Willie Pickens Trio and Maggie Brown.

Celebrations continue into the weekend.