Hell’s Kitchen, a hard-rocking Tacoma nightclub that has hosted a mix of local and national acts for a decade, is closing Saturday.
One of the club’s four owners, Pat Dawson, said financial reasons forced the move.
“You have to wonder, what’s going to happen to Tacoma music?” he said while tending bar Wednesday night, adding, “A lot of memories, lots of people, have been through here.”
The club relocated to 928 Pacific Ave. in downtown Tacoma after seven years on Sixth Avenue. It was a cost-saving move for club owners, who faced spending $50,000 to get the old venue in compliance with new state sprinkler requirements.
But fixing up the new space cost more than owners expected, Dawson said, and they had to invest $50,000 in faulty plumbing. He said they’ve been struggling to stay afloat for years.
Hell’s Kitchen announced its closing on Facebook, drawing more than 150 comments from patrons.
Cassie Lucarelli, 27, called a cab as soon as she heard the news. A regular for six years, she found her place at the bar and ordered a screwdriver.
“There’s nothing like this place,” she said. “They’ve put so much into the establishment and getting bands booked.”
Staff writer Craig Sailor contributed to this report.
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