Blues Fest downsized from four days to three days this past summer, and the economic shrinkage continues for the local blues scene. Today Blue Chicago announced that one of its two branches, the North location at 736 N. Clark, would shut down on January 2, 2010, consolidating the venue to the 536 N. Clark building. The joint will still stay open 7 nights a week, presumably still serving up regular sets from Shirley Johnson, Linsey Alexander, J.W. Williams, Charlie Love and Grana’ Louise.
Earlier this month, word came from Evanston’s hoodoo institution, Bill’s Blues Bar, that the venue is on the brink of closing for good. Undoubtedly, the posh new SPACE venue a short distance away has hurt bookings. Owner Bill Gilmore’s downer email offered little hope:
Unless there is a drastic change in our financial circumstances, Bill’s Blues last day of operation is on the very near horizon.
Our current economic situation is desperate…
At this point, any last minute attempt to save Bill’s is a very long shot indeed and would most likely result in a complete restructuring of the business. I would be most interested in hearing from anyone who feels that they have anything of value to contribute.
The bar owes back state taxes and by government order lost its liquor license on November 2. Bill’s Blues Bar has been serving up shuffle and Hecky’s BBQ sandwiches on Davis Street for years. It is the longest running live-music venue in Evanston’s history.
Update: I was holding out a little hope, but it looks like it’s all over. Bill’s Blues Bar, as of yesterday, is officially closed.
Wow, that’s too bad. I feel for the musicians and the bar employees. This really proves that tourism and convention business is way, way down in Chicago. Let’s hope the remaining blues clubs can stay in business and provide a place for blues to evolve. It’d be great if these places could be supported by real music fans that live in Chicago… but how many times a year do you want to hear “Sweet Home Chicago” when it really is your sweet home?
As a Tuesday night jammer I would be heartbroken to see Bill’s Blues go under. It’s a wonderful venue, a real treasure! and its loss would be a loss not just to the North Side but to all Chicago. Unfortunately, the steady descent of Bill’s been obvious for over a year, and a bit of a vicious cycle, for as the variety and quality of offerings have been whittled away (think beverages on tap, bottled brews, soap in the men’s washroom), customers have fewer reasons to return.
It just goes to show once again that there is no money in the Blues. The audience that it once enjoyed has dwindled in size, and what remains is not enough to make these last bastions of the Blues commercially viable any more.
While the elders of the Blues are dieing in numbers, the new musicians seem to lack an ability to draw the numbers needed to keep these venues open.
I agree with A Fan above. There is only so far you can hope to cut costs before you completely remove any reason for customers to return.
Blame Mcormick Place, unions, & hotel greed. Instead of giving speclal deals to attract conventons, hotels raise rates, unions pile on fake overtime & ghost workers, and McCormick Place stands firm on $$$.. Do they think conventions have no choice but to return to Chicago? Wrong. Meanwhile businesses in the surrouding areas pay an -additional- sales tax for the ‘help’ McCormick Place gives our sales. Ha!