The Fresnan reported last week that Zapp's Park, the beloved tiny music venue at Olive and Blackstone, would be closing. That's sort of true, but after talking to co-owner Pete Mejia, there's more to the story.
Mejia says he and his business partner, who took over Zapp's in 2005, are not planning on renewing their lease when it ends in a couple months. Instead, they want to look for a new, bigger location.
"The place is too small," Mejia says. "It reached a point where it's not going to work with a smaller venue like that."
Of course, he says, he'd take the Zapp's Park name with him. To not take the name would "ridiculous" he says, citing its history as one of the longest-running venues in Fresno's local music scene.
Right now, he says he's looking at a location at Olive and Van Ness (street view), which used to be Phat Manz Alley. It would put Zapp's in the heart of the Tower District and up the square footage of the location from 900 to 1,650. Nothing is signed right now, but Mejia says that's his first choice.
While local music venues such as Crossroads and Milano have been crippled by the economy, Mejia says Zapp's problem is all about space, not money.
"We make money," he says. "The bills get paid. We aren't driving Porsches or Ferraris, but at the end of the day, we're happy."
Immediate plans are for Zapp's to stay up and running in its current location through the end of September. Mejia says he's trying to get a head start on transferring his licenses and permits, so there's not much dark time once the old location closes.
Coming up: Zapp's has a night of local hard rock on Friday and a CD for Troops benefit concert on Saturday.
old crossroads location would be perfect
I was half-expecting him to say that, but I guess he wants to be in the Tower.
You do realize The Original name of "Zapps Park" is because it's built next to the property of the Former Water Park that Thrived Heavily through the Early 1900's named "ZAPPS PARK" ?
The School right next to the Bar is "Susan B. Anthony" built right where the Water Park was.
Moving this Name wouldn't make any sense at another Location, where I see and understand Pete's thought process, you have to ask yourself doesn't Fresno deserve to have it's history preserved in a location that's relevant ?
I wouldn't open "Pinedale Youth Center" in Highway City or "Wild Water Adventure Tavern" in River park.. right ??
I don't know about moving Zapps Park. The Spot is sacred. Might as well move out and leave the name. I played my first set of original songs there back in the day and I will always remember Zapps Park for that reason. If I walk into some other bar named Zapps, It just won't be the same. That's just my opinion.
Samba space is open.
Million Elephant's new club will be vacant soon.
And that's exactly what the Tower needs, another club of moderate size to carry live music. They can do Indie night on Tuesdays, and open mic night on Mondays, and this way Grooveyard and Six Ounce can play 3 nights a week in the Tower, Audies, then Starline, then Zapps2.
I'm sure they'll have nooooo problem scoring an ABC full-bar permit and a dance permit. ABC is giving those away lately.
WAIT! Granite Park!!!!! The Edge becomes Zapps Park at Granite Park.
Sorry, I loved Zapps back in the day. John from Mofo two feet away from you, staring over your head at the mirror while his brother was OUTSIDE in the parking lot playing his wireless guitar solo. Place packed, Zappers lighting up the bartop. That's a bar.
Just hasn't been the same since the music scene changed over the last few years. Hopefully it'll swing back, but I really hope the owners aren't expecting to fill a club 4-7 nights a week. Even Audies and Starline struggle mightily on certain nights. And Million Elephant's Club? Well...that's a story unto itself.
"Million Elephant's new club will be vacant soon"
wha? give em a chance stephen. they've managed to make it as a restaurant, maybe they can pull off the club aspect as well.
unless things change, Ed, that club is dead in the water.
I love the restaurant, eat there often, love the staff and Paulith.
But the club right now is open, has a DJ on Th/Fr/Sa. Charges to get in. But there's no alcohol in there. They ID folks to get in (over 21 only). So let me get this straight: They want $10 per person to enter a dark room with a DJ and to dance. No booze. No juice at this time. No water. Just a big empty space with bouncers and a DJ.
The owner expects folks to cross into the restaurant if they want to drink. Order the drink there, finish it there, and then go back into the club to dance.
Now...what about the diners who are in the restaurant and can't get to the bar or get their drink on because all the club folk are in there? (if there were club folk).
Had the owner waited til he got his alcohol permits taken care of, I'd have hope for the club's success, but he's killing it before it can even get going. Who wants to get ID'd and charged $5 or $10 dollars when there's nothing inside but restrooms??
I get why he has to charge...all those bouncers and the uniformed security dude don't come cheep, but patience, Paulith, patience! Cuz he might ruin any chances he has before it even gets going.
Meanwhile, I'll continue eating there, love that delicious food!
Ironic, the reason they want to move is the reason I love performing in Zapp's Park. It's just so intimate, you really get good sense of what the crowds reaction is to your music.
I'd welcome them in Tower. It does seem a little sad to leave that intimate location though. The first time I saw the Mofo Party Band I was sitting on a stool at Zapp's, directly in front of the lead singer. It was like he was singing just to me.
You mean you have to investigate stories before you try to report them? Weird. What are you, a legitimate journalist or something, Mike Oz?
It's kinda a given that I suck and Mike Oz is a journalist and better than me and that I am just a lowly blogger without skills. But I guess it's good to stop and point these things out once in a while.
In my defense, my post was more about the location closing than "what's next" (even though I pointed out he's looking at new venues to move to).
Props to Mike going the extra journalism-y mile.
Move is fine, but Leave That Name where it is !! It Belongs THERE ! in That Location . .
That IS Zapps Park !.. If We're blessed someone else will come along and reopen the Spot..
Think I'm gonna go get sloshed there later..lol
I would like to say Zapps was the first spot we (Alpha Force) ever played at, but it isn't, although it is the spot where we played the majority of our shows and without a doubt the spot where we had our best shows.
Pete has always been a stand up guy to the groups that come through there, which is something really hard to find these days, so as far as i'm concerned Pete is Zapps Park.
No matter what they do, they know we'll always have their back just like they have ours.