A Partial List Of Permanently Closed Venues Across The Country
A partial list of permanently closed venues: the Satellite is on the list
The pandemic is not over, concerts and live events will eventually come back but meanwhile, it is time to count the many casualties. But there is still one good news: with the federal government’s $900 billion COVID-19 relief package, live venues will receive a part of the $15 billion Save Our Stages Act and this money will obviously be very welcomed by venues that have been forced to close at the beginning of the pandemic (March 2019) and are currently struggling.
According to Billboard, some of these venues tried to survive by taking on debt or benefiting from state or local concert-business bailouts, but many have closed, forever.
Save Our Stages Act is supposed to help the majority of the 3,000 venues that comprise the National Independent Venue Association, but some have already lost the battle. I know that because I live next to the Satellite in Silverlake, and the legendary venue will not reopen after the pandemic. It’s currently for sale and it will probably be turned into a hip Silverlake restaurant after the pandemic. Gentrification is the problem, a lot of independent venues in popular neighborhoods are operated on small budgets, with a DIY attitude. But when they are bought and transformed into fancy places there is no turning back, and finding another location with the rising cost of rents is out of the question.
Steven Severin, co-owner of Neumos in Seattle, told Billboard: ‘Music venues that are around started in the neighborhoods that were less than desirable, because you had to have cheap rent to be able to have that much space. As time goes on, they become more desirable and now, Neumos for example, is in an entertainment district. It used to be Auto Row. It’s not going to be new music venues that come in, it’s going to be condos.’
Venues are not only cultural centers but valuable economic drivers generating money for neighborhoods, attracting crowds, and even tourism. Lady Gaga once played the small Silverlake’s Satellite that is now closed, Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo once played the modest Hi Hat in Highland park, and the Rolling Stones once played the Echoplex… imagine the crowds that probably bought food and beverages in the local stores and restaurants.
We can only hope that the money will reach the right venues. However, according to Pollstar, plenty of people will be left without any help. Michael Strickland owner of Bandit Lites, a lighting company out of Knoxville, Tenn. told Pollstar: ‘Save Our Stages was like landing at the beach in Omaha, but we still have to get to Paris. It does not cover the majority of our industry. The majority of live event operators, promoters, talent reps, and production companies don’t qualify for the Save Our Stages aid.’
Unfortunately, the bill denies aid to independent contractors or some businesses, and according to Strickland, millions of live event workers will not receive any aid: ‘Artists, Performers and Musicians, Sound, Lighting, Video, Pyrotechnics, Lasers, Caterers, Rigging, Trucking, Busing, Staging, Wardrobe, Designers, Dancers, Festivals, Tours, Corporate Shows, Trade Shows, Conventions, Speakers, TV Studios and Stations, Radio Stations, Film, Theme Parks and attractions, Labor Companies, Freelance workers, Circuses, Fairs, Rodeos, Water Shows, Freight, Power, Radio Stations, Manufacturers, and many others’
‘For many in the live events industry this is a band-aid on a large cut,’ stated Jeanne Moran, spokesperson for the Save Live Events Now (#SLEN) coalition which issued a press release following congressional passage of Save Our Stages. ‘It helps to cover a portion of the cut, but doesn’t stop the bleeding.’
Meanwhile, here is the list of the permanently closed venues across the country, state by state. And I am still happy there’s not another name (besides the Satellite) added to the list of Los Angeles venues… so far
Partial List of Permanently Closed Venues
Alabama
Tangled String Studios in Huntsville
Arizona
The Greenroom in Flagstaff
Chicago Bar in Tucson
California
The Satellite in Los Angeles
Slim’s in San Francisco
The Graduate in San Luis Obispo
The Uptown in Oakland
Starline Social Club in Oakland (up for sale)
Colorado
The Henry Strater Theatre in Durango
Intrinzik in Montrose
3 Kings Tavern in Denver
Live @ Jack’s in Denver
Le Cour Denver’s Art Bar in Denver
Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins
Local 46 in Denver
El Chapultepec in Denver
Zephyr Lounge in Aurora
Connecticut
MAC650 in Middletown
Florida
The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton
Georgia
The Vista Room in Decatur
The Jinx 912 in Savannah
The Music Room in Atlanta
The Country Club Dancehall & Saloon in Augusta
Illinois
IO Theater in Chicago
Iowa
The Mill in Iowa City
Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines
Kansas
Kanza Hall in Kansas City
Kentucky
Cosmic Charlie’s in Lexington
Maine
Port City Music Hall in Portland
Maryland
The Soundry in Columbia
Massachusetts
Great Scott (AEG) in Boston
The C Note in Hull
Thunder Road Music Club in Somerville
Bull McCabe’s in Somerville
The Cantab Lounge in Cambridge (up for sale)
Studio at 550 in Cambridge (relocating to unidentified location)
ONCE Lounge and Ballroom in Somerville
Gateway City Arts in Holyoke
Michigan
Majestic Theatre in Detroit (up for sale)
Magic Stick Music Venue in Detroit (up for sale)
Minnesota
Honey in Minneapolis
Missouri
The Ready Room in St. Louis
New York
Upright Citizens Brigade in New York
Burgundy Basin in Pittsford
Shetler Studios in New York
The Well in Bushwick
Copacabana in New York
North Carolina
The Mothlight in West Asheville
THE BLOCK off biltmore in Asheville
Ohio
Wolf Den in Cleveland
Thursday’s Lounge in Akron
Stella’s Music Club in Cleveland
Nighttown in Cleveland (sold)
Pennsylvania
Brillobox in Pittsburgh
Warmdaddy’s in Philadelphia
Chameleon Club in Lancaster
The Rex Theater in Pittsburgh
Boot & Saddle in Philadelphia
Tennessee
Douglas Corner Cafe in Nashville
Songbirds in Chattanooga
The Willow Tree in Johnson City
Midtown Crossing Grill in Memphis
Texas
Lizard Lounge in Dallas
Threadgill’s in Austin
Shady Grove in Austin
Republic Country Club and BBQ in Houston
The Blue Light in Dallas
Gas Monkey Live in Dallas
Barracuda in Austin
Plush in Austin
Scratchouse in Austin
Tomcats West in Dallas
Big Texas Dance Hall & Saloon in Spring
The North Door in Austin
The Townsend in Austin
One-2-One Bar in Austin
Washington
Re-bar in Seattle
The Firefly Lounge in Bellingham
Tony V’s Garage in Everett
The Swiss in Tacoma
Louie G’s in Fife
The Pin in Spokane
Wisconsin
Fire on Water in Milwaukee
Underground Collaborative in Milwaukee
Up & Under in Milwaukee
The Riverwest Public House Cooperative in Milwaukee
Washington, D.C.
Eighteenth Street Lounge
Twins Jazz
U Street Music Hall
