While the 1,500-capacity entertainment venue 4th & B may be known as one of San Diego’s premier concert halls, music fans attending shows can also find a treasure in the displays of music memorabilia from the collection of owner Vincent Puma. “I’ve always been into filling my house with memorabilia and my wife didn’t quite like that,” Puma joked. “But this is kind of my dream to put these items out for the people to see.” Since acquiring the club at 345 B St. in March 2009, Puma has attempted to get a piece of memorabilia signed by each artist that performs at the club. Visiting musicians, he said, love the display. “They’re pretty much blown away,” he said. “That helps me ask them to sign a guitar, because they’ve already seen the collection. They know I’m not just going to go sell it.” Puma has been a memorabilia collector for decades and once owned one of the world’s top Van Halen collections until it was destroyed in the 2007 wildfires. From that tragedy, Puma would go on to stage a benefit for the wildfire victims, which ultimately led to the purchase of the club by him and his wife, Judy. When word got around that Puma had lost his items in the fires, Sammy Hagar sent a guitar and Eddie Van Halen sent a personal note on an autographed picture. The items remain Puma’s favorites in the display. Not quite every artist has been willing to sign, Puma said. “The only one that’s turned me down is Jeff Beck because I didn’t have a good enough guitar,” he said. Even with such a big guitar collection, Puma rarely plays. “I used to, a little bit, but I work too hard now,” he said. “I don’t have the energy, running the club takes all my time.” Currently in the midst of upgrades, the club has received a new burgundy and gold paint job, upscale booths and a sound system makeover. Changes to come include the addition of more club-style lighting, complete with LED displays. The most popular addition to 4th & B over the last couple of years, however, has still been the collectibles display. The massed instruments are definitely attention-getters, attracting fans of all genres of music. Items on display include photos, posters and 32 guitars, most signed by artists who have performed at the 15-year-old club since Puma became its owner, including Snoop Dogg, Ratt and Dokken. The memorabilia lines the club’s walls behind the bars, with guitars on stands alongside the bottles. Puma said he would like to expand the display, noting 4th & B’s multi-purpose capability — which can be used to host a Carnival party one night and a boxing match the next. But this would also require the décor to be changed quickly. “I have to take it down for certain events, because people like to do different types of events with themes,” he said. “I considered building cases, but promoters like to use projections on the wall, so I’d have to move them around. This is the best way for now.” After two years of ownership, Puma is breaking even. On his second anniversary as owner, he is particularly upbeat about 4th & B’s future, with upcoming shows including singer-songwriter Jason Derulo (March 25) and British hit-makers OMD (March 27). The club averages 10 events per month, though he hopes to have that number up to 15-plus soon. He noted that Latin and electronica concerts do well, but rock isn’t as big a draw. “I really feel this is going to be my breakout year,” Puma said. “In this economy, breaking even is a win. I bought 4th & B to be part of the community. I really didn’t buy this for the money. I was already retired basically. I wanted to be part of the music scene.”