Chickie Wah Wah sold

[DownDaBayou]

Chickie Wah Wah sold to Bryan Bailey, one of the owners of the Civic Theatre in the CBD, and others for $910.000.00 on July 19. Looks like a win-win for New Orleans music lovers. https://beacon.schneidercorp.com/Application.aspx... https://coraweb.sos.la.gov/.../CommercialSearchDetails... https://www.weichert.com/105006934/

[festbabe]

Nice. I miss that place, hoping it stays relatively the same (but will keep an open mind).

[jjazznj]

Nice. I miss that place, hoping it stays relatively the same (but will keep an open mind).

That is the plan, to keep it pretty much the same as it was pre-pandemic.

[festbabe]

That is the plan, to keep it pretty much the same as it was pre-pandemic.

Excellent! Now I just look forward to a re-opening date

[jjazznj]

Excellent! Now I just look forward to a re-opening date

Should be sometime late Sept/early Oct.

[swag]

Keith Spera:

On July 21, a group that includes several music industry veterans purchased Chickie Wah Wah from the estate of founder Dale Triguero. The $910,000 price tag included the property at 2828 Canal St., most of the venue’s contents and its related intellectual property.

But the initial purchase was only the start of their investment, said Civic Theatre owner Bryan Bailey, one of the new ownership group’s principals.

Before they reopen Chickie Wah Wah, hopefully by October, they expect to spend an additional six figures on renovating a building that suffers from storm damage and years of deferred maintenance.

A new roof, a new HVAC system and structural repairs are on tap. Additionally, the main music room will be reconfigured, with the kitchen likely moving from the front to the back.

But Bailey and his partners intend to sustain the spirit of Chickie Wah Wah that Triguero fostered right up until his sudden death in July 2021. Specifically, they want Chickie Wah Wah to be a welcoming, cozy space that showcases the best of local roots music and like-minded touring acts.

“The idea behind all of it is to keep the spirit of Chickie Wah Wah alive,” Bailey said this week. “Take the original intent, the type and quality of music that Dale presented, and operate and manage it better.

“It’s a very special place for a lot of artists. We want to find a way to improve that and make it a better experience.”
...

The dozen or so investors include Steve Rehage, founder of the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience, and Alex Brahl , whose Denver-based 7S Management manages Nathaniel Rateliff and New Orleans acts Anders Osborne and Galactic, among many others.
...

Their agreement was designed so that “no one is so heavily invested that they have outsize leverage, or where economic performance is the driving factor,” Bailey said.

“It needs to make money, and I believe it will. A music venue is not the most lucrative use (of the property), but we think its best use is as Chickie Wah Wah. That’s where it is, and what it is."

The operating agreement aims to secure the club’s long-term viability.

“We created a structure that will ensure the survival of Chickie Wah Wah past us,” Bailey said. “It keeps everyone incentivized to keep Chickie Wah Wah as it is.

“What Preservation Hall is to jazz in general and New Orleans, we’d love to see Chickie Wah Wah fill that place in the pantheon for a broader cross section of music.”

The music will be similar to what Triguero favored, said Bailey, who is excited about the flexibility of a small venue.

“With the 1,200- capacity Civic, it’s hard to do five shows a week. But with a 200-capacity at Chickie Wah Wah, why can’t you?”
...

The kitchen may be rebuilt at the back of the building, though Bailey doubts that can be accomplished in time for the planned fall reopening.

“We don’t want to lose the food, but how can we reposition things to make for a better experience? How can we do what Dale did and do it better?”
...

https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/keith_spera/article_4cceb0b6-1e3e-11ed-ba03-57a0d74e293c.html

[festbabe]

<3 <3 I have hope

[festbabe]

Swag posted snippets, so I recommend reading the full article , if you're able. One of my favorite nuggets:

“Some signs that I was under the impression were included in the sale disappeared, so we had them replicated. Hopefully no one will notice the difference.”

[jjazznj]

So I finally was able to talk to my friend who is the of the many who bought into this place. He is in charge of the renovations which will be extensive. He pretty much said the same things that were said in that article including it will be run more like a real music club and that there is still a lot of work to be done on the building including the roof, electric, moving the kitchen and new a/c. Think sometime in late October. As someone who lives right up the street I look forward to the re-birth of CWW. Hopefully they bring back more touring roots artists besides giving local artists another place to play. I've seen so many greats there from Joe Ely to Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Shannon McNally, North Mississippi Allstars, The Blue Runners, Bill Kirchen, Anders and others.

[chrisjoseph]

So I finally was able to talk to my friend who is the of the many who bought into this place. He is in charge of the renovations which will be extensive. He pretty much said the same things that were said in that article including it will be run more like a real music club and that there is still a lot of work to be done on the building including the roof, electric, moving the kitchen and new a/c. Think sometime in late October. As someone who lives right up the street I look forward to the re-birth of CWW. Hopefully they bring back more touring roots artists besides giving local artists another place to play. I've seen so many greats there from Joe Ely to Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Shannon McNally, North Mississippi Allstars, The Blue Runners, Bill Kirchen, Anders and others.

Respectfully asking: it was one of the best (if not THE best) music clubs in New Orleans. So what does your friend mean "it will be run more like a real music club"? Meaning it won't be friendly to musicians? They won't get paid? Smoking will be allowed?

Dale was a quirky/controversial guy, but for my money it was still the best place to see music in New Orleans. I sure hope they don't change it into a "real music club."

[jjazznj]

Respectfully asking: it was one of the best (if not THE best) music clubs in New Orleans. So what does your friend mean "it will be run more like a real music club"? Meaning it won't be friendly to musicians? They won't get paid? Smoking will be allowed?

Dale was a quirky/controversial guy, but for my money it was still the best place to see music in New Orleans. I sure hope they don't change it into a "real music club."

From what I've heard it never made much money. The new owners want the club to be profitable meaning everyone pays to get in. They are moving things around so more people will fit in the club. Beyond that I have no idea.

[belyin]

From what I've heard it never made much money. The new owners want the club to be profitable meaning everyone pays to get in. They are moving things around so more people will fit in the club. Beyond that I have no idea.

Most of the people behind this project are well-off to very wealthy. If I were one of them I would be more concerned with making a great music space than making much profit. But then again, that is probably why I am not one of them.

[20/20]

I certainly hope that they add valet-parking. That missing amenity keeps so much of New Orleans second rate.

[belyin]

I certainly hope that they add valet-parking. That missing amenity keeps so much of New Orleans second rate.

I can't think of any culturally significant music club with valet parking. "Second-rate" dives are about the only spaces where anything interesting can happen.

[jjazznj]

Most of the people behind this project are well-off to very wealthy. If I were one of them I would be more concerned with making a great music space than making much profit. But then again, that is probably why I am not one of them.

I'm pretty sure all of them feel that way but no one buys a business to lose money. They bought it to hopefully bring it back to pretty much the way it was pre-pandemic but a little better. We shall see.

And yeah, I really doubt they'll have valet parking for multiple reasons.

Speakinng of local music clubs, does anyone know what happened to that jazz club that was to open across the street from The Broadside? I was so looking forward to it opening last year. I even saw their floor plans, they were going to be a regular bar with food and a music room and feature local jazz, kind of a replacement for The Prime Example that closed a while back.