Another closing in downtown Minneapolis. The Pourhouse is closing its doors after 12 years as a live music and club venue.
The spot, on Hennepin and 5th Street, will close immediately. They held their last show on Saturday night. The club was located in the historic Lumber Exchange building and contained an event space for weddings and other gatherings.
Minneapolis Downtown Council President Adam Duininck tells WCCO Radio that it's unfortunate the city is losing another tenant.
"There's been a couple of other restaurants and there's a brewpub that closed earlier this year," Duininck says. "Some of it is cyclical in terms of business cycles. Some of it is just unfortunate timing. But, you know, you never want to see a business close."
According to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, Hempel Real Estate plans to redevelop the historic Lumber Exchange Building which, as many downtown spots have become, a possible residential conversion candidate. They're currently exploring a mixed-use repurposing, which could include retail, office and residential spaces.
The building is one of downtown's oldest. The building was the first skyscraper built in the city, dating to 1885. It is the oldest high-rise building standing in Minneapolis, and is the oldest building outside of New York City with 12 or more floors.
“Hempel plans to honor its historic character while exploring opportunities for a mixed-use development that could include retail, office, and residential spaces,” the company said in a statement.
For upcoming shows, the Pourhouse says they'll be emailing with new details or a refund will be automatically processed within 7-10 business days.
While no specific reason was given for the closure, many other restaurants, bars and night clubs in the area have closed in the past two years. The location of the club has become somewhat of a hotspot for homeless and criminal activity at night.
"They take a lot of risks and that's why I think that's also a reminder why we get so engaged on issues at either City Hall or at the state that impact businesses, is because their margins are really thin and it's a tough, tough place to make a living," Duininck explains. "I know a lot of people think, 'oh, a restaurant owner or a bar owner, they're just, you know, doing really well.' And some of them do better than others. But it's a either way it's a tough, tough place to make a living."