The rBar, 4054 Chouteau Avenue, is taking a break after this weekend’s second annual White Hot Party, and when it resurfaces Aug 22, it’ll do so as the AM Lounge.

Corey Lawson, who’ll run AM Lounge with Kyle Wort and Jason Kanzler, says they’ll revamp rBar to make it more of a nightclub and lounge.

“We’re changing the name and our strategy,” says Lawson. “We did some things well and we did some things not so well with the rBar. But we learned it was always a great late-night bar. That’s something we’re excited about, and we can do it even better.”

So that will be the focus, which means they’ll lose the happy hours and dinner specials.

What’s to be gained: a new interior, seating, lighting, and acoustics.

The various upgrades are felt necessary – when they originally opened as rBar, they cut some corners such as buying old tables and chairs from establishments that went out of business.

“We wanted to open those doors however we could,” he says. “And now we want to be known as the best late-night venue in the area.”

Saturday’s Alive-sponsored White Hot Party, with three DJs on deck, begins at 8 p.m. and runs until 3 a.m., with Malibu drink specials offered. The cover is $5 after 11 p.m.

“We’re hoping the White Party is even bigger this year. It’s basically our wrap-up of the summer, and everyone wears white,” says Lawson.

Get more information at www.myspace.com/amloungestl