It’s Official: The Living Room Closing at the End of the Month
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The Living Room is closing after 15 years on the LES
The Living Room is officially closing at the end of the month due to a gouging rental increase. If you’re keeping a tally, that’s eleven years on Ludlow Street, including four lease extensions after the first shutter announcement back in January. The swan song at 154 Ludlow Street is slated for October 26.
When news first broke about their closure, the Living Room kickstarted a Crowdfunding initiative to help raise the dough for a new location. While the campaign seemingly proved successful for the sixteen-year-old venue, the Lower East Side mainstay remains without a home. Community Board 3 shot down its recent bid for the old laundromat at 173 East Second Street.
Below is the official farewell letter:
To all our friends,
We will be closing the Living Room on Ludlow Street at the end of this month. Our last night is Saturday October 26th.
It’s hard to believe we have been here on the Lower East side for over 16 years. First on the corner of Allen and Stanton and for the last 11 years here at 154 ludlow.
We were hoping to announce our new location, but we can’t do that at this time. Steve and I are continuing our search for a new home for the club. We will keep you informed of our progress.
We want to thank you for supporting the Living Room all these years and we would like to give a special thanks to all the amazing performers who gave their songs and their voices to make our one stage the center of so many great nights.
Keep any eye out for our progress and if you see a space that’s available, take a photo and send me an email. And please come by Ludlow Street to say goodbye.
Love
Jennifer
Meanwhile, a real estate listing for the space surfaced on Craigslist last week. Rent sought for the 1,500 square-foot (plus basement) space is a whopping $19,000.
The Living Room began life at Allen and Stanton in 1997, then relocated to its soon-to-be former spot in 2002.
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