SEATTLE — Cafe Racer, the iconic but struggling music venue in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, will soon shut its doors to focus on nonprofit outreach efforts to promote growth and opportunities for young artists.
"Change is always good, we're only gonna get bigger and better with our mission and our goals and the outreach we want to provide," said manager Chris Anderson.
It's been a long road for Cafe Racer, dating back to 2012 when a gunman killed four people at the original location in the University District.
A series of closures and re-openings followed, and in 2018 the business was sold to the current owners. They moved into the venue along the Pike/Pine corridor in 2021.
"After three incredible years, Cafe Racer on Capitol Hill will close its doors on June 30th, 2024," partner Jody Neran Ramsammy wrote on Instagram. "But don't worry, we're not saying goodbye forever! Cafe Racer is evolving into a nonprofit arts organization focusing on youth and underrepresented artist development."
Anderson said those initiatives have long been part of the organization's mission.
"We bring in promoters that typically can't promote in Seattle unless they pay a large venue fee. We also have all ages events, where a lot of music venues in Seattle don't cater to all ages crowds," he told KING 5. "I think giving young folks alternatives and other opportunities to express themselves helps them in the future, and their present. What we've done in the past is become a bridge for those emerging artists to get their name out there."
The closure of the physical location comes after ownership couldn't reach a lease agreement with the building's owners, but Ramsammy hinted at future developments.
"We are working in the background on a potential new multidisciplinary arts, culinary, mixology, and entertainment venue," he wrote in his Instagram post.
The venue's last day will be Sunday, June 30.
The group plans to maintain an online presence.