Looks like Johnny D's is closing

[mkwatt.livejournal.com]

http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/music/2015/07/19/johnny-music-club-plans-close/jsp6k7PO8jh9uhtn454ZmK/story.html#

Comments

[cos]

Anyone know of any possibility of someone buying it and continuing to run it as a live music venue? The article doesn't say whether she's considered selling it rather than closing, unless I missed it.

[kelkyag]

From the article, it sounds like she's planning to convert the space to uses that are more profitable and less demanding of her time, so I'd assume selling it as-is isn't going to happen. With a small club as one of of the possibilities for part of the space ... if that happens I imagine someone else will be running it?

[rmd.livejournal.com]

That's a definite shame, but I can't blame her - that's a long time to run something that requires that much work.

[ron_newman]

That's a cryin' shame. Davis Square is losing part of its essential soul.

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

Agreed Ron. Without Johnny D's and the Somerville Theater, Davis is like Moody Street with a T stop.

Sadly a consequence of gentrification. Thirty years ago she would have sold the business but now the real estate is too valuable.

[ifotismeni]

what's wrong with moody street? :P

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with Moody Street. It is in many ways more interesting than Davis and certainly more ethnically diverse. But it is largely a restaurant and bar destination. It is nice that Davis has had other entertainment alternatives as a draw (live music, theater, movies, etc.) So you hate to lose a place like Johnny D's.

[ifotismeni]

oh yeah, very true. moody's does remind me a bit of what davis was like back when i lived there (and now i live in waltham).

[teko.livejournal.com]

Oh goody. Just what we need, more expensive apartments!

I'm sure if I'd spent most of my adult life running a club/restaurant, the idea of 'retiring' to be a landlord would be very attractive. But after the Kindred debacle, forgive me if I question her real estate prowess.

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

I imagine that she would simply sell to or become a partner with a developer if she is looking to simplify her life and spend more time with her family.

[secretlyironic.livejournal.com]

We need more housing of all kinds. Shame to lose the music venue, but housing is a good thing to have too. Maybe someone can open a nightclub in the wreckage of the Social Security building.

[lizforalderman.livejournal.com]

What *did* happen with Kindred?

[teko.livejournal.com]

It was under development for over two years before being open for, I believe, less than a month actually selling tea. From what they've said online, the owners simply ran out of funds to support the place, which isn't surprising, given how long they paid rent on the space before actually opening for business.

At the licensing board meeting, when 9 Bars Espresso applied for a recorded entertainment permit in that space, the board asked, "In the Kindred space? How long was Kindred open?" and the 9 Bars people said "two weeks, I think." The board just shook their heads and rolled their eyes.

[lizforalderman.livejournal.com]

I spent over a year excited to have a tea place open up, and then never had a single cup of tea there, as they were open so briefly. Do we know anything about why they delayed so long in opening? I recall hypothesizing about it with friends; we assumed the building must have been owned by someone's parents and the Kindred folks were just puttering around without paying rent. It didn't seem like they did such extreme renovations as to require any such long delay.

[keithn.livejournal.com]

This is incredibly sad. I hope that between now and next year somehow someway somebody can find a way to keep this place open. I can totally respect where the owner is coming from, though, 18 hours a day, 6 days a week year in and year out is a crazy amount of commitment, and a commitment that has been fantastic for Davis Square. Even if she were to hand this place off to somebody else it would never be the same.

[ifotismeni]

this one hurts a lot. i have so many happy memories at johnny d's, and now that i live outside the area i'm going to really miss one of my main reasons to hop by my old digs. but i totally get her reasoning, i can't have been easy to run a place like that. people deserve to live and enjoy their lives!

[she-of-emeralds.livejournal.com]

Noooooooooooo!

[nomacmac.livejournal.com]

This announcement was on the Davis Square Facebook page:

An informational meeting for local residents about plans for the JOHNNY Ds building will happen at 6PM, Wednesday July 29, at the Baptist Community Church at 31 College Avenue in Davis Square. Please not that the Club will be closed early next year. This meeting is NOT about keeping it open.

[ron_newman]

That might be worth a separate new post.

[lizforalderman.livejournal.com]

If someone here attends this meeting, please report back. I have another commitment that evening but I am very interested. Thanks.

[courtney (from livejournal.com)]

This was posted on the Johnny D's Facebook page on July 23rd...

"Just a very quick note to answer some speculation. I am not selling the property to an outside developer. I am also not considering a 300 capacity live music venue as a bottom floor for residential above. Think 300 people on a sidewalk outside your apartment at 1am. Make sense? And commercial upper stories is not viable.
There are some great venues doing some great shows in this area and I urge you all to keep live music front of mind. Go out, get your friends to go out, take a chance on a band you don't know, pay the ticket price, buy a drink, and tip so that artists, servers, and the people who put on shows can make a living.
For those who value the unique mom and pops (and I am one of them) keep spending your money there and encourage your friends too. That way they can pay the rents as areas get pricey.
I thank all the great people who have made it possible, and that includes our amazing staff, artists, press folks, agents, and of course customers (past and present). And thank you for the appreciation posts and best wishes!!" - Carla D