A veteran Honolulu nightclub operator is coming out of retirement amid a recession to open a new hangout at Ward Centre.

George Kail, who created Maze, Mystique, Blue Zebra, Pink Cadillac and 3-D, has leased the former Brew Moon brewery and restaurant space at Ward Centre to establish Paparazzi, envisioned as a bar and lounge that he hopes will become another hot nightspot.

Kail projects spending $350,000 to $500,000 to remodel the 8,000-square-foot space into an upscale bar with an extensive pupu menu, sofa seating, and live and DJ-played music, that will be open until 2 a.m.

"I think it'll be a fun place to go," he said, explaining that the Paparazzi theme is intended to convey a scene where everybody is treated like a movie star.

Kail estimates that the club will be open in September.

The endeavor comes at a time when the frayed economy is primarily claiming businesses. But Kail, 65, knows that economic cycles turn and believes there's demand for a new popular nightclub in Honolulu.

"It's a little bit of a gamble," he said. "It's a good opportunity."

Kail had been retired since Maze at the Waikiki Trade Center closed in 2003, and spent much of his time out of business raising what are now twin 4-year-old girls with his wife, Noriko.

Previous ventures for the former hairdresser from Pittsburgh include 3-D, which Kail opened in 1982 and sold within a year to open Pink Cadillac in Waikiki. After selling Pink Cadillac, Kail started Blue Zebra at Restaurant Row in 1993, and later renamed the club Mystique. As Mystique evolved, however, the club drew some bad elements and closed under landlord pressure in 1999.

If Kail realizes his new plan, Paparazzi will join Oceans 808 at Restaurant Row, Pearl Ultralounge at Ala Moana Center and Level 4 at Royal Hawaiian Center among nightclubs that have opened at local shopping centers in the past few years.

Donna Farrell, general manager at Ward Centers, said a late-night bar and lounge should be a good fit with the mall's mix that until recently had more restaurants contributing to the night life at the property.

"I think it'll be a unique new use at the center," she said.

In addition to Brew Moon, Ward Centre has lost two major restaurant tenants, E&O Trading Co. and Compadres Bar & Grill, since late last year. Other restaurant anchors Ryan's Grill and Kaka'ako Kitchen remain. New tenants slated to join Ward Centre around July are koa wood furniture retailer Martin & MacArthur and quick-service restaurant Taco Del Mar.