The Warehouse Has Been Shut Down
City Arts Magazine was the first to report that The Warehouse, an (increasingly less) underground music and arts space, is closing. The building is located between South 11th and 13th Streets on Court E and has been a home and venue for many artists in the community. My guess is that there’s a bit more to this story, but here are a few details according to the wonderful world of Facebook:
After 5 months of serving our community and providing an alternative space for music and art to occur we are sad to say that we have been shut down. From this point forward, the Warehouse is closed and we are all being asked to vacate. This is very sad and unfortunate. But, such is the world of underground and DIY venues. We have thoroughly enjoyed opening our home to you Tacoma and the many amazing artists that have come through town. These last few months have been incredible and more than we could have asked for. For now, all of the events on our calendar will be moved to new locations around town, so keep following our updates on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.
More of the press release and info at City Arts Magazine
Filed under: General
20 comments
C crenshaw sepulveda February 25, 2010
From the last issue of City Arts it seemed that Tacoma was on the verge of being the next Brooklyn or Oakland of the warehouse scene. Say it isn’t so. If Daniel Blue were dead he’d be rolling over in his grave.
P Peter Peter February 25, 2010
Is it ever possible for an “underground” venue to survive when it’s being profiled in magazines and its events appear on newspaper websites? At some point it would seem that city officials would want code and safety requirements to be met.
R RR Anderson February 25, 2010
Is this change I can believe in!?
T Thorax O'Tool February 25, 2010
They’ve moved to a real underground location: the catacombs under downtown. They’ve sat idle since the bootleggers abandoned them after prohibition was repealed.
L leftcoastgrrl February 25, 2010
I’m sorry to see it go…the Round and other events there were community-builders. The people who made them happen for the common good are appreciated and, I hope, will find partners elsewhere that welcome this kind of venue/arts scene.
S spyder February 25, 2010
Another case of Tacoma shitting on itself. This town f’n sucks. The leaders of the city are out of touch with the people. This town will never grow.
R rick February 25, 2010
Dear spyder,
Thank you for your comments, and I wish you the best in pursuing your GED.
Whether “the city” has ever shit on itself (proverbially speaking of course) is highly likely… though I have a hard time accepting that this particular event qualifies as such. As Derek pointed out, there’s likely “more to the story” than has been disclosed in this forum. Once those pesky details surface, I suspect there will be something more compelling than “leaders of city extinguish joy of youth by closing lawful and safe music venue for no apparent reason”. It may, in fact, be an unfortunate closure, to be sure. But if an actual market exists for getting members of the community into a venue with the types of art/artists mentioned, an adequate alternative will surely surface.
A conclusion that a particular town f’n sucks is highly personal, and I respect your conclusion, however misinformed it may be. That said, I’d like to make a financial contribution to the “move spyder to a less f’n sucky city” fund. I had thought of establishing said fund at the local u-haul facility. But by virtue of your articulate post, I’m guessing all your valuable possessions (iPod nano, black hoody, carton of off-brand cigarettes) could fit in a duffle bag. Thus, a greyhound ticket should suffice.
The leaders of Tacoma, sadly, are not in touch with ALL of the people… true. They’re typically most often in touch with the people who got them elected (or anointed, or however it actually works these days). I recommend you contact the official that you voted for—and especially if you helped them campaign. They’re very receptive to active supporters’ input, as a rule. Good news, though… if that whole GED thing doesn’t work out, you could be a political strategist. As a side note, I don’t think we want our leaders to be TOO in touch with the people like the mayor of Portland…
The population of Tacoma in 1990 was 177K (spyder… the “K” symbolized the function “multiply by 1,000”), and in 2000 was 194K, and was estimated to be 197K in 2008. So, Tacoma certainly HAS been growing, though at a slower rate in the last decade compared to the prior. But, I guess your point is that with the Warehouse closure, there is no incentive for population growth in Tacoma, and I can see how you draw your conclusion no I can’t. I’m not actually sure what the population growth has to do with any of this, but I’m sure it’s brilliant.
Let me know the destination for your bus ticket. And thank you for reading exit 133.
R RR Anderson February 25, 2010
sometimes rick’s cruelty is really funny.
A Altered Chords February 25, 2010
I had not heard of this warehouse. I did not know there was a Court E in Tacoma.
That means the warehouse was out of touch with me. Therefore the warehouse sucks and so does Court E.
C crenshaw sepulveda February 26, 2010
We could have been Brooklyn or Oakland. We got that close. We were that close to a thriving warehouse scene.
D dolly varden February 26, 2010
Spyder, in Seattle the Warehouse would never have survived so long. Tacoma’s pretty f’n laissez faire, relatively speaking.
C crinshaw zepeda February 27, 2010
It wont work, we’re all doomed. Tacoma sucks.
S storky February 27, 2010
This is unfortunate, but predictable. As of yet, I suppose we don’t know if the Fire Marshall or Building Official got involved, or if it is simply a case of the property owner wanting to lease this former-commercial facility to an actual commercial enterprise. If that’s the case, then that’s their business to do.
I am both a local musician and employee of local government and see it from both sides. I’m familiar with the warehouse, before it was called that. For a crash pad and rehearsal/party space, it was pretty rad. Its not very rock ‘n roll to say so, but fire/building/safety codes exist for a reason, and the Warehouse as a public gathering place was woefully inadequate in that regard. I remember the back exit being practically inaccessible – you have to have more than one way in or out in case of fire. The parties should’ve remained just that – word of mouth parties. Publish those events in the paper and you are no different than Hells Kitchen, who, by the way, has to provide those safeguards for their customers. Best of luck to those who have put their heart into the Warehouse.
M Mike G March 1, 2010
There have been big parties there for years, not just the last 5 months.
T tressie March 1, 2010
my second reaction to that CityArts article actually being published was: stfu or you too will get a visit from the Enforcers and the Parking Ticket Ladies.
But I do agree. We’re all doomed.
R RR Anderson March 1, 2010
THE CONSPIRACY is real. City Arts exists for one reason: to glorify the great city of Seattle and to ruin anything interesting about Tacoma. You see it in their cartoon choices…
D Danny C March 3, 2010
My heart was crushed when I heard the news. Not only for losing a place to hang out, listen to music and poetry, but for my friends who now have to find a new place to live. I understand the safety concerns but when safety interferes with relationships, building community, expressing ourselves peacefully, and inhibits living life together. I think we should be able to take risks. After all, we risk life every day weather it be walking down the street, driving a car, eating food, or living near a mountain that could blow any minute.
T The Warehouse March 3, 2010
Folks… please click on the link and read the whole release. Some of you are just basing your reactions off of the quip that Exit133 chose.
Thanks to those of you who supported us. Thanks to those of you who will continue to do so. And thanks to Danny for a great point and comment.
A Altered Chords March 3, 2010
lordy help us…not “the man” again.
I thought hippies and “the man” made up in the 70s
C crenshaw sepulveda March 3, 2010
Maybe we can Milwaukee or maybe even Fresno.