After the city steps in due to capacity and zoning concerns, the Rockford tavern’s “Cool Beats @ The Corner” series scraps three concerts that were planned for early 2017.
‘Cool Beats’ No More: The Accidentals performed upstairs at The Corner Bar in early December. (Photo/Local Spins)
After a successful, early December launch to its “Cool Beats @ The Corner” series with a sold-out show starring The Accidentals, Rockford’s Corner Bar has pulled the plug on future concerts in its second-level banquet room.
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Rockford city officials informed the bar this week that the series “needs to be shut down” due to zoning and capacity issues related to using the upstairs space, which is currently designated for “just restaurant dining.”
On Stage: The Accidentals at their Corner Bar debut. (Photo/Anna Sink)
Dennis Moline, who organized the series, said refunds to ticket buyers for future shows in the series — The Ragbirds on Jan. 28, The Crane Wives on March 4 and Brian Vander Ark (with Channing & Quinn) — already are being made through brownpapertickets.com.
A saddened Moline called the cancellations unfortunate, especially because the Jan. 28 concert featuring Ann Arbor indie-folk band The Ragbirds had sold out.
The decision comes after a jam-packed Dec. 3 inaugural concert at The Corner Bar. Popular Traverse City indie-folk trio The Accidentals — who have earned national acclaim for their music and live performances — delivered a rousing show in the intimate space. (Check out a Local Spins recap and photos from that show.)
In a letter to Corner Bar owner Jeff Wolfe, the Rockford Department of Public Safety indicated that due to zoning and code requirements, the city “cannot agree” to adjust the maximum capacity of the venue beyond 81 people. The city also noted that “any changes to the venue would need to be rezoned and new requirements would need to be addressed” in order to continue the concert series as planned.
Upstairs at The Corner Bar (Photo/Local Spins)
“The city’s inspection group stated that the newly renovated upstairs space was designated for restaurant dining only,” Moline said. “Any changes from that use would require rezoning and the possibility of new requirements including ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) adherence, a fire suppression system and possibly additional structural support to increase beyond stated dining capacity.”
Moline said the series was designed to support “an iconic local business” and showcase high-profile regional acts in a fresh setting, so the cancellations are disappointing.
“We were pleasantly surprised at the response to the concert series. The first two shows sold out pretty quick and the final two were trending that way,” he told Local Spins. “There’s definitely a big demand for top-shelf regional acts in an intimate space. It’s disappointing that we had to pull the plug on this so abruptly and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience. Rest assured, all ticket monies are being refunded.”
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