Melody, the natural wine bar and restaurant in East Hollywood, will close on July 12. Owner Eric Tucker plans to temporarily reopen it as "Bar Band-Aid" to keep up with rent while searching for a buyer. For nearly a decade, the venue served as a cultural and gender-safe space, fostering an inclusive environment and showcasing emerging chefs. Business declined due to recent strikes, wildfires, a tough political climate, and rising living costs in L.A., leading to the decision to close permanently. Tucker reflects on the challenges faced in keeping the establishment afloat.
We weren't perfect, but it wasn't supposed to be,
We were that cultural [and] gender safe space where you could be whoever you wanted to be, exposing people to foods that they maybe never had before and giving chefs those chances to shine.
I don't see how places survive anymore. I've never done this before, closing a business. But I think one of the most special things for me is, how do I get out of this thing without losing it all?
According to Tucker, Melody began to see a decline in business during the Hollywood strikes in 2023. Combined with the compounding effects of the January wildfires, a tense political climate and L.A.'s high cost of living, the bar-restaurant "just couldn't do it anymore."
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