Two popular nightspots on Church Street are set to close within the next two months.
Since 2004 both Blue Gene's and Vibe Entertainment Complex sat next to each other on the 1700 block of Church Street. According to owner Mike Brown, they both will close on September 24.
Brown took to Facebook in the mid-afternoon August 1 for the announcement, which was quickly shared over 80 times, most with condolences for the two organizations. That post reads:
August 1, 2016 - Blue Gene's and Vibe Entertainment Complex Lose Lease. Set to close September 24, 2016
It is with great sadness that we are having to close Blue Gene's and Vibe. For the past 2 years we have quietly fought to continue to operate at our current location despite outrageous rent increases and legal fees. With the building boom going on now in Nashville, the time has finally come in which our landlord will no longer renew our lease.
We would like to thank the community for your support over the past 12 years. We hope we have provided a venue for the GLBTQ community as well as other liberal minded folks to call Blue Gene's and Vibe their home. Our goal was to bridge the gap between gay and straight, black and white, and to make sure everyone feels accepted no matter the color of their skin, socioeconomic class, religious beliefs, or their political affiliation.
We would like to thank all of our loyal customers, our wonderful staff and all those that have worked for us over the years. We take with us may great memories. We have shared in the happiness of others by providing a place to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and weddings. We have united and celebrated equal rights. We have provided a place for groups to meet, plays, countless benefit shows and celebrations of life.
We are proud of the success of Vibe. We hope we have fulfilled our goal to provide a place for the African American GLBTQ community to come too and feel accepted, to showcase their talents and have a good time.
We will be celebrating our 12-year anniversary at Vibe on September 3, 2016.
Our final night and closing parties for both bars will be September 24, 2016. Further details will be coming soon.
Thank you,
Will and Mike
Reaction online was quick. Patrons, many noting they've been customers since all twelve years the nightclubs were in operation, and former employees, all went online to post displeasure with the news.
