Signs of life, craft beer at Hollywood’s Music Box

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Concerts are still going on sale and the craft beer is still being tapped, yet questions remain on the fate of Hollywood’s Music Box. There are, however, signs of life.

This week alone, promoter Goldenvoice is placing on sale four shows at the concert hall, this despite the fact that it remains shuttered after the venue leasees were evicted. Meanwhile, Blue Palms Brewhouse, which was on the Music Box lease and evicted along with the venue, has been granted a temporary reprieve.

Owner Brian Lenzo wrote in an email this morning that he hoped to have ‘good news’ about the future of the bar/restaurant; this afternoon, he was able to reveal that the venue’s owner has allowed him to stay open at least another two or three weeks.

‘We continue to discuss a long-term solution with the owner and remain hopeful that a deal can soon be reached,’ read the announcement posted on the Blue Palms Facebook page. ‘The (property) owner has been, and continues to be, incredibly accommodating during this uncertain time following the closure of The Music Box. We want our fans and customers to know that the owner has been very fair with us and is doing all she can to allow us to continue serving amazing food and craft beer to the Los Angeles Community.’

Property records list the owner of the Henry Fonda, which houses the Music Box and Blue Palms, as New York resident Leslie Blumberg, whom Pop & Hiss has been unable to reach. Calls to the local leasing firm listed on the records, Hutchinson & Bloodgood LLP, have not been returned. Additionally, Thaddeus Smith, who ran the Music Box, located just west of the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Gower Street, has not responded to requests for comment.

There has been growing yet unconfirmed speculation that Goldenvoice would be taking over the Music Box lease, but a spokeswoman for the promoter said the company had no updated statement beyond its proclamation last week that the company believed it would be a ‘short term’ closure. As of today, future concerts, including a sold-out Jan. 26 show by Blink-182 off-shoots Angels & Airwaves, are still scheduled for the Music Box.

Kerry Morrison, excecutive director of the nonprofit Hollywood Property Owners Alliance, credits Smith as an ‘inspiration’ in helping to revitalize Hollywood.

‘For many years,’ she said, the Music Box ‘was shuttered, dark and empty, up until maybe eight years ago. That corner of Gower and Hollywood is a gateway to the Walk of Fame. On one side of the street you had Pep Boys, and on another side you had the dark and closed Henry Fonda Theater. Thad and his partners transformed it into a vibrating pulse of life.’

Goldenvoice, at least, seems to believe it will be once again, as tickets for a Feb. 21 gig from the New York-based noise-rockers Sleigh Bells go on sale Thursday (Jan. 11) at 10 a.m.

ALSO:

Hollywood’s Music Box closed -- for now

Critic’s Notebook: At Coachella, a rebellious spirit

Music Box’s landlord evicted; Blue Palms closing Sunday night

-- Todd Martens