New Music Venue ‘The Desert Rat’ Set to Open in Downtown Indio This December

A familiar space in downtown Indio is about to get a new life. What was once the Little Street Music Hall will soon reopen as The Desert Rat, a fresh take on the local music venue — and it’s bringing bagels with it.

The new business, slated to open December 6, is the brainchild of two local entrepreneurs: Jace Levi, owner of World Famous Repairland, and Ron Mesh, who operates Studio B, a professional mixing facility also based in Indio.

“The two most important things for us were to bring some of the best musical talent to Indio and create a space that’s open to the public morning and night,” Levi shared.

That vision is becoming a reality. The venue will host live concerts by night and serve as a community café and bagel shop by day, filling a gap for locals looking for a laid-back place to hang out, enjoy music, or grab a bite.

“The community needs something seven days a week,” Levi said. “They need a place where they can hang out, have a soda, see some live music — just be part of something.”

To help make that vision viable, the City of Indio approved $180,000 in funding, which includes an 18-month rent-free lease period to cover the cost of construction and setup.

“It’s a big investment on both of our parts for the long term,” said Mesh. “We’re not just using the city’s money and walking away. We’re heavily invested ourselves.”

And when it comes to music, both owners are leveraging years of experience in the industry — and a deep network of contacts — to book top-tier touring acts alongside local talent.

“We’ve got great local bands,” Levi noted. “But they need better opportunities, and we want to give them a stage that can grow with them.”

Though they wouldn’t name names just yet, the owners hinted that some of their first bookings are already lined up for December, featuring performers ranging in age from 22 to 60.

“Who’s performing? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see,” Levi teased.

Whether you’re coming for the bagels or the beats, The Desert Rat promises to be a lively new cornerstone in Indio’s growing arts and entertainment scene.

NBC Palm Springs will continue to follow the venue’s progress as opening day approaches.