Former Terrapin men’s basketball player and NBA All-Star Steve Francis’ glory days on the court may be behind him, but the former Terp could be planning a comeback to College Park by investing in Santa Fe Café.

Francis is in talks with Santa Fe owner Mark Srour to become a part-owner and investor in the downtown bar.

“We’re all excited,” said Srour, who flew out to meet the basketball star this past weekend. “He thoroughly enjoyed talking to me and we’re negotiating. It looks like it’s going to be a done deal.”

Francis, who is originally from Takoma Park, Md., transferred to the university in 1998 and played for one year, leading the Terps to the Sweet Sixteen in the 1999 NCAA Tournament before declaring for the NBA Draft. He was drafted No. 2 overall and played nine years in the NBA for three teams. He was also a three-time All-Star. Now, Francis is looking to enter the nightlife scene of College Park.

In the meantime, Srour said Santa Fe will be closing May 24 for renovations and hopes to open up the ground floor by the beginning of the fall semester but is unsure if construction will be completed.

“Santa Fe needs a nice facelift,” he said. “It’s a building that’s many years old.”

Srour said he wants to make Santa Fe more like the 9:30 club in Washington.”We are going to promote more of a band venue,” he said.

Srour said the bar in the center of the building will be removed and he plans to finally acquiesce to city demands and install a sprinkler system.

“We’re going to be changing the name and changing everything,” he said, adding the bar’s upper level will be turned into a “more trendy lounge [area].”

Though Srour admitted the deal with Francis was not 100 percent complete, he noted he has other parties interested if it falls through. He anticipates an agreement to be finalized within the next couple of weeks.

Regardless of who his partner is, Srour believes the bar will be a success. Francis could not be reached for comment.

“It’ll be the hottest venue in town,” Srour said.

Many students seem excited about the possibility of Steve Francis returning to College Park.

“If Steve Francis came to Santa Fe that’d be sick,” senior English major Geoff Thompson said. “I’d love to go to the bar and just know he’s there.”

To some, there’s an element of nostalgia that excites them about Francis coming back.

“If you were a Maryland fan growing up, before you went here, you definitely knew Steve Francis and were a fan of his,” junior history major Sonny Mazzullo said. “I used to watch all the Maryland games before I went here.”

Students were also looking forward to a revamped bar with more focus on the music.

“I mean, that’s pretty cool that Santa Fe is going to be revamped,” Mazzullo added. “The only time I go there is for the concerts anyway, so I would love it if they made it more like the 9:30 club.”

Junior marketing major Igor Fedorovskiy said a music venue is a perfect fit to complete a diverse lineup of late-night options.

“I feel like it’s great that College Park has a place where people can appreciate live music,” Feborovskiy said. “I’m really really grateful I have that at the university.”

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