Numerous Brooklyn DIY venues have been dropping like flies, such as the closing and burglary of Silent Barn, and Monster Island soon to join them this month. Now news has spread that Bruar Falls, the Williamsburg counterpart to the Lower East Side’s Cake Shop, will be shutting their doors for good in November. Interestingly, Bruar Falls’ story is a bit different than those of the DIY scene, as the two-year-old host for free music was an actual legitimate venue.
Co-owner Andy Bodes explained in an official statement:
We opened with nothing but optimism and excitement, after designing and building our ideal combination of a local jukebox bar with a stage to showcase all the great bands coming out of Brooklyn. It was soon apparent to us, however, that people in Williamsburg have lots of other options to see bands. We love and are inspired by these places, but really, between loft/warehouse parties and D.I.Y spots, where you can bring in your own cheap beer, smoke inside and hit on the same people…we totally understand why it’s hard to spend money at your local legit small club. It is difficult not to be a bit jealous of their freedom, but we have always worked hard to be in for the long haul. Our closure is not a victim of Whole Foods’ bulldozers, nor did we get our sound equipment stolen by thieving assholes. Actually, we wish it was something that dramatic and awful.
So while we were scraping up funds to help these illegal party places, we let a legitimate hang-out expire entirely. Lesson learned. Bodes hints, however, at the possibility of saving “the name for another location” so it can “start anew.”
Some of the venue’s final performances will include sets by Shooting Spires, Forest Fire, and Yvette.
• Bruar Falls: http://bruarfalls.com
