Musician Aaron Parks said...> ...."So apparently the Morse Theatre, where my trio had a gig scheduled for this Friday night, is going bankrupt...."Bankrupt? Does he know something Joe Moore isn't telling us? Bankrupt is far worse than infighting.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Morse Theatre Will Close on March 7th
Brent DiCrescenzo at Time Out Chicago blog is reporting March 7th as the last day the Morse Theatre will be open. Go read the whole thing. That's unless Joe Moore's told you already?
Then, there's this new news!
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46 comments:
This is so so sad. It is a wonderful venue.
This is so absurd- I'm confused, what was the point!? I can't believe it!!!
As if there isn't enough depressing news going on now. This is a real downer- a nightmare honestly.
Hypothetically speaking, if they reopen without Andy McGhee, we have to worry who will be running the place and will they care about RP like Andy did(being a longtime resident)? That is a REAL concern to me.
Will they turn into a late night loud nightclub? That is a concern.
This sucks. Now what do they do with that space? What replaces it, if this is true, a dollar store? A dive bar? Nothing? Does it sit dormant for years until someone with money to spend decided to take a chance on it? How could all of that hard work go to waste? Who can let this happen? What is REALLY going on?
This place has had SOME impact, bringing at least a few people who've never been to RP before into the neighborhood. And before anyone scoffs, having a venue like that can change a neighborhood. Look what happened when they started booking alternative shows at places like the Congress theater... the hipsters showed up, they lived the area, they moved in (or took over, depending who you talk to). Maybe the answer was/is for the Morse to diversify their shows. I honestly didn't think a venue that fancy and big could sustain itself just on jazz and classical (with the occasional blues and bluegrass). they needed a few indie shows, not the loud headbanging punk, but an Ani Difranco, a Ted Leo, something for the mature alternative crowd. Those folks go to a lot of shows and spend a lot of money on booze. Find out who the booker is and tell them to start diversifying their bookings. Losing this place will be a colossal waste.
Oh, yeah, and what happens to the apartment building next door, the one that spruced up a bit and brought in a security guard as a (direct?) result of the Morse? Do they go back to being a blatant gangbanger hangout?
I wish to hell there was some way these guys can figure out how to stick it out. They're just getting started, and shutting down now will simply put every aspect of this business entirely up for grabs.
I watched as the Morseland opened to the public as a upscale Supper Club, only to be transformed into a hip-hop night club when they realized they couldn't make it financially under the formula they had envisioned 5 years ago.
Could this be the direction the Morse takes?
Is Joe Moore mediating these thoughts right now?
What days does Morseland play Hip Hop? Everytime I go, there is a rock band playing. I am confused.
That is such a shame with The Morse. Hopefully they are able to work something out at the last minute of way before.
I will be there Sat. for Carnival! Gonna go Samba with my Brasilian people!
Hip hop, funk and soul.
They book just about everything under the sun: from rock to hip-hop; from soul to jazz; from blues to funk and everything in between, according to their website.
Top Hat 2
The acts were too niche/obscure. And they spent way too much money on a place that seats about 300 people. And $20 entrees won't cut it on Morse. Sad, but true...
This was a great idea, lousy location. It's in the heart of hell in Rogers Park. What makes or breaks a business is location - location - location. Why do you think we have so many vacant storefronts in Rogers Park?
Quest - oh please, how dramatic - the heart of hell? I hardly think so, I walk by there almost every day with my dogs - give me a break... AS it gained in popularity, people would definitely go there. I always believed they needed safe valet parking and/or a lot. When people with some money want a night out, they don't want to take the L or park blocks away. Would they truly invest millions and walk away? That really wouldn't make sense. Higher price entrees can make it in a venue like that - they just have to be great entrees and mix in a few lower price items as well. It's hard to know what's going on there without the facts (and I doubt Moore knows them - if they re-open, it will be due to him. If it closes forever, we will never hear another thing about it from him).
Morseland can hardly be categorized as a hip-hop club. They have a very eclectic mix of entertainers.
Quest--vacant storefronts are everywhere right now, not just in Rogers Park. But I agree that operation wasn't a good fit for the location. I get the feeling that the owners/managers followed their hearts rather than using business sense. You can't blame someone for having a vision and running with it...but if you want to stay in business you have to be able to adapt and adjust (especially in bad economic conditions).
The venue seemed to be superb, but from a business standpoint it never stood a chance (even if the economy hadn't taken a crap). The pub was very uninviting (as far as price/selection goes) unless you were actually going to a show. Both times I visited it was virtually empty. I understand the desire to keep the rift-raft out, but when your least expensive drink is a $4 PBR, you can't expect to attract a regular local crowd. $4 for a PBR!
I would love to have a nice, clean sports bar with good food in this area. I think that a place like Hamiltons would be great along Morse Avenue. You know, something for the 25-40 year old non-hippies that live here.
I watched as the Morseland opened to the public as a upscale Supper Club, only to be transformed into a hip-hop night club when they realized they couldn't make it financially under the formula they had envisioned 5 years ago.
Could this be the direction the Morse takes?
As I said, there are TONS of acts that are not jazz or blues and could play there that would draw big crowds but are not either loud rock acts or "hip hop" acts (which I take it is considred a negative?). And they could draw big. "Rock" doesn't necessarily mean big hair and wailing guitars.
This was a great idea, lousy location. It's in the heart of hell in Rogers Park. What makes or breaks a business is location - location - location.
So what location is the Congress theater in? What location is the Empty Bottle? Those locations aren't any better than RP and I dare say that when I used to go to them years ago, the areas were a lot WORSE. Location had nothing to do with it. Give the people what they want (or MAKE then want it) and they will come, Field of Dreams-style.
The acts were too niche/obscure. And they spent way too much money on a place that seats about 300 people. And $20 entrees won't cut it on Morse. Sad, but true...
Agreed. I like jazz but most of the acts there I'd never heard of before. Not saying they weren't good performers, just admitting that my knowledge of them wasn't that big. They needed a mix of sure-fire sellout shows and the acts that are dear to their heart.
I put no stock in all this speculation that the demise of The Morse is due to the types of acts they booked.
It's far, far too soon for anyone to come to that conclusion.
I put no stock in all this speculation that the demise of The Morse is due to the types of acts they booked.
I never said the potential closing was SOLELY based on booking, but if you're a music venue you have to look at that. So was every show a sellout? 60 percent of them? 40 percent of them? 20?
Besides, all of the stories coming out so far talk about infighting, so we have to assume that's the reason. The stuff about booking was based on a comment by someone else about booking. Just giving an obervation/opinion.
Though to be fair, there is a good show this weekend (the Brazilian carnival). Hopefully something if figured out soon, as the coming months seem interesting.
"Besides, all of the stories coming out so far talk about infighting, so we have to assume that's the reason."
In my opinion, the only thing we have to assume is that we have no idea why The Morse is closing. It's all speculation.
In my opinion, the only thing we have to assume is that we have no idea why The Morse is closing. It's all speculation.
From a note from Joe Moore himself, as posted here:
Dear Neighbor,
You may have read a press report last Friday that the Morse Theater, which opened to rave reviews just four months ago, may close its doors temporarily due to a dispute between the theater's principal investor and the management team that operates the theater and its restaurant, the Century Public House.
I have been in regular communication with both sides since I first learned of the dispute early last week, and have urged them to resolve their differences.
Earlier post
I'm not calling Moore an authority, but HE'S that's the case and he has more access to the parties that we do, so...
Oh please.
Oh please.
Well, that insightful and detailed rebuttal aside, from all reports (and their are others, not just Moore's), that seems to be the reason. But if you don't want to accept that as the reason, that's great. I, personally, would like for the reason for the problems to be something more concrete that can be fixed with, say, additional cops, more security, better food, etc. As it stands, it seems as if it's something that only a couple of people can fix.
ofcourse joe moore has to be mentioned somewhere
this should be renamed
what
hmmmmm?
the broken heart of joe moore
ok, so much has been put into this place, it will survive as another incarnation under different managment,
oops i yawned
probably joe moore
woke up drank some crank juice like
what is it again, the engery drink with alcohol.... SPARKS
and then he dressed into his fatigues to go this trusty old m16 and then he started firing indiscrimintly on morse thus effectivly
throwing the whole avenue into another funk, then he woke up again when he really wasnt awake and then an atomic bomb in his but sent the morse theatre into bankruptcy,
wow what a saga it has been
yes the morse theatre will reopen
when people are poor as all hell
or maybe people really do pour millions of dollars into stuff
and then they tnt it just for the hell of it
So is Morseland a "hip-hop" club or not?
Maybe I should ask somebody that knows about the neighborhood.
Seeing your reading comprehension is weak, yeah... do that. Go ask someone else.
No, Moresland is not a hip-hop club. They're a bar, with pretty good food, that has a lot of different kinds of music. Unless you think Jimmy Bennington is a rapper. (Hint: he's not.) They seem to have a lot of DJ nights and that's more typical of a certain kind of Chicago bar scene for 20 somethings. That's not the same as being a "hip hop" club.
Not trying to defend one of Craig's new mortal-enemies-of-the-week, but if the "facts" get bent any further, they're going to break.
Al, didn't you catch my correction and link up above ? @ (9:35 PM and 9:38 PM), responding to the question from RP30's 9:22 PM posting that read...
====What days does Morseland play Hip Hop? ====
I posted a link from the Morseland website whereas it showed they had Dirty Thursdays, spinning hip-hop, soul, funk & reggae.
So, there you have it. The Morseland itself advertises hip-hop on Thursdays. No bending anything.
So is Morseland a "hip-hop" club or not?
Maybe I should ask somebody that knows about the neighborhood.
*********
And you call yourself 'RP30'?
Where do you really live? And what do you really know about Morse Avenue?
Do you SHOP there, as I do?
Or, do you FEAR to shop there, as I sometimes do?
For those who weren't around. Here's what still bothers me about the whole Morseland deal.
In the fall of 2003, the Morseland was denied a liquor license. They appealed, claiming selling liquor was secondary to food.
I knew that was a crock of shit the moment I heard it out of Gregory's mouth.
Before the appeal hearing they mysteriously got their liquor license without the public hearing, which was scheduled for March of 2004.
Later it was brought to my attention Gregory slipped Joe some campaign money from his other company around that same time, the records will show.
Wellington Realty Group
5724 N. Western Av
Chicago, IL 60559
$1,000.00 on 3/3/2004
Citizens for Joe Moore
Wellington Realty Group
5724 N. Western Av
Chicago, IL 60559
$1,500.00 on 3/25/2004
Citizens for Joe Moore
He's never given to Joe before -- and never given after this very odd timing donation that coincided with his overturned denial of the secondary to food liquor license.
To this day I challenge Gregory to prove to me he makes more money selling food over selling alcohol, like he claimed in 2003 and 04.
Hey Craig, I was just going by what you said in your first comment above.
Relax homie, you can't expect us to read your sometimes accurate blog and just agree with you all the time.
I think you have made it very clear where you stand on lil things like DIVERSITY,crime and such. It took only a short time from the initial finding of this blog, to go over your entries, and read between the lines. Pretty transparent actually.
But it is your blog... right?
Grammer girl, you are funny. I was being sarcastic........duh! I know they play hip hop on -THUR-. It was just funny how Craig made it sound when he said "...public as a upscale Supper Club, ONLY to be transformed into a hip-hop night club ".
Splash some water in your face darling because it's past lunchtime.
Grammeeer Girl , I can name pretty much every teacher that was at Field in the 80's including the lunch lady that still lives next door to me. I can tell you about the leader of the Royals (early 90's) who stopped my mother from being attacked by a pissed drunk white guy in the lobby or our building at Farwell and Ashland. I can tell you how to get from Devon and Sheridan to Touhy and Clark by just using gangways (I know they don't have those in Kansas but you can ask somebody what they are). Oh and I can walk up and down Morse because I probably went to school with some of those "diversity kids" parents.
It's survival of the fittest baby. Get a clue!
Oh, don't forget, trix are for kids.
=== I can tell you about the leader of the Royals (early 90's) who stopped my mother from being attacked by a pissed drunk white guy in the lobby or our building at Farwell and Ashland. ===
We don't have to read between the lines here. Sounds like you don't like white people.
So, DIVERSITY to you is only a one way street? Can't have it both ways.
I made that one clear for you and grammeeeer girl who obviously don't know the real meaning of diversity.
One, maybe even 2 steps ahead of you.
*brother*
oh and by BTW the leader of the Royals was a white guy. Just in case you did not read between the lines.
Morseland spinning music on a DJ-driven night that includes hip hop, does not make Morseland a hip-hop club any more than Jimmy Bennington playing there makes it appropriate to call it a jazz club. (Or calling XRT "the Radiohead station" because they used to highlight that they played Radiohead.)
It's a bar talking up a DJ night. This is typical of a lot of bars in Chicago. It's a hipster scene thing -- or an attempt at it -- and is not a "hip hop night" or a "hip hop club."
Craig, yes, thanks, I did see what you wrote before I commented. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share a bit of my expertise here, in response to that.
===="It's a bar talking up a DJ night. This is typical of a lot of bars in Chicago...."
...Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share a bit of my expertise here, in response to that.==="
You're very welcome, AL.
You're "expertise" also proves my point the Morseland Bar (after all, that's what you called it) duped the community in order to secure a liquor license that was previously denied.
They double duped the public by claiming liquor was secondary to food.
Funny enough, the transfer of money from the potential bar owner in another business name to an elected officials reelection campaign war-chest during the exact month a public hearing on the matter was to take place, but never did, shows a hint of possible influence in how the deal when down without a public hearing.
Now believe, me, I'm for the Morseland. It's a good bar. I'm just not into being duped to believe what Gregory Altman fed us in 2003 and 04, when he wanted to open up the so-called restaurant.
He should've been open and honest in the beginning. It's a bar that serves food. For that I've never believed a word he says to this day. I see him as a liar.
And Gregory, if you're reading this?
The seniors are still waiting for their "weekly brunches..."
That part of the deal too! Remember?
Out of curiosity, was your current opinion formed before or after you were 86'd from Morseland? I was going to offer to meet you over there on the Dirty Thursday of your choice and we could take a look at who's eating and who's drinking, maybe make some wild ass guesses about % of sales. Then I remembered your spat with David....
BTW when I was there last night, they were spinning some cool old deep house and a bit of disco. Patrons seemed to be...eating dinner. One guy was having a beer.
Could their revenue be more alcohol-based than food-based? I don't know them, don't have access to the books, so no clue. Certainly, it could be the case. I find it hard to brand somebody a liar over that, though.
BTW, could you please get into a fight with RoPa next? They could use the press.
===Out of curiosity, was your current opinion formed before or after you were 86'd from Morseland? ===
86'd? As in banned? That's news to me. Guess I'll stop going in their bar and spending my money there. When they ask me why I don't come in anymore, I'll tell them you said I was 86'd.
Thanks for the heads up.
Oh, didn't realize you guys had made up after your previous stunt with the camera.
Al, Morseland (and it's owners) didn't give a crap, Rene Carmargo did. Mr. Mannis added salt to the wound.
To this day Dave and I get a chuckle over the whole scene. Personally, I think Rene is a big cry-baby. But, that's just my opinion.
Now, let's get back to discussing how we're, as a community, going to let these owners of the Morse know that their infighting could kill all hope(s) they give us when the wanted to open the Morse in the first place.
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