BROOKLYN (CelebrityAccess) – Saint Vitus Bar, the enduring Brooklyn venue recognized for its underground heavy steel and punk exhibits, has closed indefinitely.
Situated at 1120 Manhattan Avenue, the venue has been a cornerstone of the heavy music scene since its opening in 2011. Nonetheless, the venue’s doorways have been out of the blue shuttered on February 16, 2024, throughout a efficiency by the band Mindforce. The New York Metropolis Division of Buildings cited violations associated to inadequate permits and improper occupancy documentation as the explanation for the closure.
Regardless of its historical past of internet hosting legendary acts like Megadeth, Anthrax, and even Nirvana, Saint Vitus Bar was pressured to shut as a consequence of what gave the impression to be bureaucratic oversights. The bar’s house owners, who passionately ran the venue as a bar and live performance area, expressed their disappointment in a message shared on social media: “Saint Vitus Bar, to be continued… Thanks to everybody who was part of it. Love and Hails!”
Saint Vitus was greater than only a venue—it was a spot the place metalheads gathered to expertise music and a singular environment. The bar’s decor mirrored its heavy steel ethos, together with upside-down crosses and t-shirts with humorous, darkish mottos. Over its 13-year run, the venue turned a hub for live shows, craft beer launches, themed yoga classes, and a close-knit group of music lovers.
The closure, nonetheless, has been met with controversy. Many native musicians and followers imagine the shutdown was avoidable, pointing to claims of focused complaints in opposition to the bar. Metropolis Council members have expressed frustration over the state of affairs, with some suggesting that the closure was pushed by resentment towards the venue.
Tributes have been left at its entrance, with followers leaving flowers and taking reflective images. The bar’s historical past of working below outdated paperwork, relationship again to 1953, has solely difficult the state of affairs, with Councilman Keith Powers highlighting the monetary and logistical challenges that contributed to its closure.
Regardless of the uncertainty, the bar’s house owners have continued speaking with metropolis officers and followers, expressing their dedication to compliance and reopening. Whereas the venue could not reopen in its authentic location, there’s hope that Saint Vitus will discover a new dwelling. Within the meantime, the bar’s legacy lives on by way of “Saint Vitus Presents,” a collection of exhibits hosted at numerous venues throughout town.