Foxy's Cabaret is nothing more than a skeleton less than a week before opening night, but Fish Head Stew is still scheduled to play on the night club's not-yet-complete stage this Saturday night.

"To tell you the truth, I might be overly optimistic. I'm hoping I'm not," Gerald Budzinski, co-owner of Foxy's Cabaret, said in an interview at his new establishment Monday.

"But, I've been working 14 hours a day and you'd be surprised. You can come in from one day to the next and it's much further along."

Budzinski has taken a month off from his job as a Coldwell Banker realtor to transform the old Royal Canadian Legion building on Alexander Street into a venue that fits his vision.

"Our motto is food, fun and fantastic people," he said.

It was the declining number of live music shows in the city that inspired the long time Yukoner to create the late-night hangout.

Low-profile bands spoke with him about the challenge of finding a stage to play on, and Budzinski himself became

overwhelmed by the amount of techno he heard in Whitehorse clubs and bars.

He sensed he wasn't alone in his frustration. A place that featured live performances, good food and rock ‘n' roll would attract a wealth of music lovers in the 25 to 50 age group who currently are limited in their choice of clubs, pubs and bars.

"The 19 to 25 (age group), they're more into the modern techno kind of music," he said.

"And the groups don't mix. The 25 to 50 get driven out by the music that the 19- to 25-year-olds play."

Budzinski said that when the Discovery Hotel bar closed a few years ago, a whole group of live-music enthusiasts suddenly had nowhere to go for a night out.

"Right now they try to squeeze into the Gold Rush, but it holds half of them, at best," he said.

With one of the largest dance floors in town and a mezzanine that can seat 40 people, Budzinski estimated that Foxy's will be able to accommodate 170 people. He said the new venue's classy atmosphere and fun vibe will attract at least that many people.

"I think that when people get a chance to see what I bring, I think they'll definitely want to come here," he said.

Most other establishments in town aren't competition for Foxy's, Budzinski said. Places such as Coasters cater to a younger age group than the one he is targeting.

"There's enough room in Whitehorse right now for another stage to play on," he said.

In addition to its ability to draw a crowd, Foxy's will also appeal to musicians because of its large stage, high-quality sound system and seating that overlooks the stage.

"My view of the building is that this will be the place that people will want to come to play music when they come through the Yukon. Period."

Budzinski plans to bring out-of-territory talent into his cabaret, but he will rely on local artists for the first few months.

For up-and-coming Yukon musicians, Budzinski will offer an open mic night.

"Come down, we'll put you on stage, see how you sound and see what we can do for you," he said.

"It's a lot different to play in a garage or a studio than it is to play in front of a crowd."

Envisioning those up-and-comers playing to a dapper crowd, Budzinski intends to hand out prizes on Friday and Saturday nights for the top-dressed people.

"We have a dress code," he said. "It's fairly minimal. Yukon formal, I guess you could call it."

Plans for Foxy's extend beyond its being the scene of a vibrant night life. Although he doesn't yet have the capital for it, Budzinski hopes to have his establishment open for lunch in six to eight months. Healthy, home-cooked food will be on the menu.

"We're not having any deep-fried (food) at all," said Budzinski. "It's bad for us."

He said he also hopes to open up a coffee bar in the future, but Foxy's will only be serving up sandwiches for the first six weeks or so.

One of Budzinski's main concerns for the cabaret is avoiding the problems that other local bars and clubs have had with intoxicated and obnoxious clientele.

Problems in bars almost always occur because someone has had too much to drink, said Budzinski, adding that those issues can be avoided if patrons are not allowed to drink too much. If anyone does consume too much liquor, they will be asked to leave.

"I'm not trying to be confrontational, but I'm not going to put up with people who are being drunk and abusive. It's just not going to happen," he said.

"And there are going to be some people who are going to be asked to leave earlier than in any other bar."

A trustworthy staff will help enforce this rule.

"I've got a really good core of people that I've kept in contact with over the years," he said. "When I basically said I was doing this, they kind of came along and became believers in what it could be."

With the crimson paint already on the walls, the lighting installed and the construction of the stage underway, that vision is coming closer to fruition after each 14-hour day.

Foxy's takes it name from the old Foxy's Cabaret that operated at the now-demolished Pioneer Inn a few years ago.

"I could have spent $15 on any name I wanted whatsoever and when I asked for Foxy's, it wasn't taken," said Budzinski. "If anybody recognizes the name, then it's $15 well-spent."

Budzinski said he is not trying to emulate the old Foxy's, but "it was a fun place to go to, and that's all I'm trying to do."

With Yukon band Fish Head Stew playing on opening night, Budzinski said his plans for "fun, food and fantastic people" should come together in no time.