It’s been a rough few weeks for local restaurants, bars and nightclubs. You’ve read about some of these closures here at the Beehive, but here’s the final tally:
They all closed for their own reasons, and you can read more about them in this weekend’s story that takes a look at the problem. The one thing they all have in common is that they’re still struggling with the lackluster economy.
The news is getting passed around Facebook (above) and I’ve confirmed it with in-the-know nightclub sources. The Roe Facebook page, which disappeared for a while today, is now back with some remembrances from employees.
The club and sushi bar (but did anybody actually eat there? apparently not) at Palm and Nees has been a staple since that Park Place shopping center opened in 2007. It’s gone through a number of promoter changes, a time when people thought it was closing and some drama, but Roe managed to outlast its ultralounge peers Twist and 2039, all three of which opened in late 2007/early 2008.
No word yet on what’s happening next at the space, but it’ll certainly become something again soon. Anything you’d like to see in its place?
Today is ArtHop, Jazz Hop, the first day of November, the day after Halloween and Thursday — all of which give the people of the Valley a reason to throw a party.
Among the things on the docket tonight: the debut of our local Amy Winehouse tribute band at Audie’s, the return of EDM party Unity, a Movember kick-off party in Visalia and a Halloween Hangover party at Roe. See the fliers below for those and more.
It’s one of those days in good ol’ Fresburg. You know, where there’s a whole lot of stuff happening. Forgive me for not writing clever little paragraphs about each one. I’m just giving you a flier dump. Go have fun, y’all!
Tonight is the launch of the Soulflower Speakeasy at Starline, featuring New Orleans-bred poet/singer/emcee Sunni Patterson. It’s put on by the Soulflower Group, which is headed by Devoya Mayo. Some might remember she organized the Ahh Yeah Poetry Jam at Starline a handful of years ago.
Tonight’s event includes local poets Connie Owens and Stephen Mayu, art from Glen Delpit and tunes from the the Soulflower Group’s DJ team.
ALSO: The second semi-final for New Rock 104.1′s House Band Search is at Crossroads. I’ll be out there hosting again. If you missed the post with all the info, go here. Last week, Dislodic won, so tonight will determine who meets them in the finals next Wednesday.
Seems like those financial problems aren’t too much of a problem anymore, if they’re pouring more money into the place.
The “new” Roe opens on Saturday night promising a “New Look, New Menu, New Vibe.”
The club postedsome pics on its Facebook of the early phases of the makeover, but nothing since, so you’ll have to head out Saturday night to see for yourself, if you’re itching to know.
UPDATE: Bee biz reporter Bethany Clough has more on the Roe situation today. In her update, she writes that eviction proceedings have begun for Roe and will take 60 days. But if Roe pays its $20,756 debt, eviction will be halted.
ORIGINAL POST, 3/24: North Fresno restaurant and lounge Roe has been no stranger to controversy since it opened. But now, it looks like it’s having some financial issues and may get evicted. That’s the scoop ABC 30′s Corin Hoggard had yesterday. From his story:
The owner of the Park Place Shopping Center filed an eviction lawsuit this week against “Roe Restaurant”.
The lawsuit claims the business owes about $20 thousand, the equivalent of a little more than one month of rent.
1. SEE A LIVING LEGEND
Indie rap hero Murs (from Living Legends) is at Starline tonight. He’s one of my favorite emcees, mainly because he puts on a fun and energetic show. He was in Visalia last year and played to a packed house at The Cellar Door. Hopefully Fresno can match Visalia tonight. Tickets are available here.
1. PUMP UP YOUR KICKS … AND GET TO VISALIA
The Beehive is involved in Saturday night’s Foster the People show for one very important reason: I think Foster the People has a crapload of potential. So of course I think you should see them at The Cellar Door. If you’ve never been to The Cellar Door this is a good chance to see the coolest music venue in the Valley (I named it venue of the year for 2010 in my column today, btw). Here’s an interview with Foster the People’s frontman Mark Foster about the band’s busy year ahead. See ya Saturday night! Until then, enjoy more “Pumped Up Kicks.”
Before we get started — support a local biz on Saturday. It’s Mike Oz Day. A couple of these definitely qualify.
1. SEE UNDERGROUND HIP-HOP ROYALTY
Saturday’s concert at The Cellar Door in Visalia is a big one for head-bobbing underground hip-hop fans. Two indie rhyme heroes — Brother Ali and The Grouch — are in town. Brother Ali is one of my favorite rappers, so I can attest he puts on a great show. The Grouch, meanwhile, sold out Starline by himself last year. So expect a big crowd at this one. Fellow Living Legend Eligh is on the bill too.
At this week’s installment of The Hub at Audie’s Olympic, Selma-bred rapper Iceman (who is in L.A. most of the time these days) comes home to headline the night. You can download his recent mixtape, “Headphone Music,” for free right here.
Roe hosts the going-away party for DJ Jimmy Martinez, who is moving away from Fresno. In addition to Martinez, an all-star lineup of local DJs will be spinning. No cover. Flier below.
Local nightclubs and what happens inside of them has been a hot topic lately with city decision-makers. So it’s particularly troubling to hear about what happenedoutside of restaurant-turned-club Roe last night.
There was a double shooting at about 1 a.m. that left two men hospitalized this morning. Details are still coming in today, so I’m sure we’ll hear more about what happened and the motives behind it in the next couple days.
First off, it’s unfortunate whenever people are shot. And second, it’s unfortunate that it happened at a time when a lot of attention is focused on Fresno nightlife — and on that shopping center in particular.
Roe’s neighbor Twist was recently at the center of a controversy about dance permits. Last we heard, the city was going to move forward, despite police objection, and give Twist its permit.
So it sucks that a victory has to be followed by a loss. You know a bunch of people saw this news today and their knee-jerk reaction was, “See, that’s why we shouldn’t let people dance in clubs.” Even though, of course, this happened in a parking lot, not on a dancefloor.
There’s some new stuff happening in the Fresno nightclubs this evening– you know, because nightclub promoters never heard an idea they didn’t try for at least one week. At Thaiphoon, the cool new thing is a name-tag party. Calling all stalkers!
Ready for a diverse night? Let’s start at Roe where it’s Top Model Tuesdays. Tyra Banks has nothing to do with this, but Dominick Young does. We’re hoping Tark is a judge.
