Another smaller music venue in Charlottesville has bitten the dust.
Is Venue, the music spot on West Main Street, will close its doors this week, as will its neighbor, Si Tapas.
The news came after the music lounge’s Twitter feed posted Sunday that the last live show would be taking place that night. One post said, “Soon to be ‘WAS Venue,’” and another said Is’ doors would close Thursday.
Employee Dave Unroe confirmed the closure Monday, saying that the tapas and music spots would not be resigning their lease for the building.
“That’s what’s with it,” he said. “The lease is up.”
Unroe said the businesses would not relocate to another place in Charlottesville. Building owner Jessie Hook said she could not say anything about the venue’s departure because the tenants had not given her any notice.
“I have not been notified of anything,” Hook said Monday.
Jeyon Falsini, the venue’s manager, did not return calls Monday seeking comment.
The closing of Is delivers another blow to Charlottesville’s live music scene, which has been rebuilding slowly with the recent opening of The Southern and the expected November opening of the renovated Jefferson Theater.
The latest West Main Street venue lasted only about a year in the space formerly occupied by the Starr Hill Music Hall, which closed in July 2007 after partnering with the Satellite Ballroom.
Satellite, which was located on the Corner near the University of Virginia, closed last year.
Jamie Sisley, who works for Red Light Management and used to be Starr Hill’s promoter, said he does not think the West Main location has been the problem.
“We liked our spot on West Main,” he said.
The down economy has made it more difficult to pack music venues for shows, Sisley said. He added that it was unfortunate for Is to shutter its doors, but he said “the tradition will continue” with The Southern and the Jefferson.
“I think people go where the music is,” Sisley said.
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