Fixin' To, a bar and live music venue in St. Johns, announced it will stop hosting concerts due to unsustainable costs. Owners Bart and Marli Blasengame faced financial challenges exacerbated by COVID and rising operational expenses. They recently attempted to sell the business but instead have decided to pivot the model. Chris Rhodes, a local resident, expressed interest in utilizing the backroom for arcade games, suggesting a new operational direction for the venue. This decision reflects ongoing concerns about the viability of live music culture in Portland.
"It just wasn't sustainable for us anymore. We were cutting it close budget-wise before COVID, and having to borrow more money to stay in business during the shutdown."
"I'm fiercely proud of what we did, but at [certain points] survival means moving on."
"When [the Blasengames] were looking to sell, I was like, 'What would it cost for me to rent that back room?"
"The shift from live music underscores what venue owners, promoters, and area musicians have been speaking out more about in regards to the future of live music in Portland."
Collection
[
|
...
]