[echo] Gentrifizierung verdrängt noch einen NYC Musikclub

[m. chevalier]

siehe
http://www.tonicnyc.com/


Dear Musicians, Fans and Friends: 

After more than 9 years as a home for avant-garde,
creative, and experimental music, Tonic will
reluctantly close its doors on Friday, April 13th,
2007. We simply can no longer afford the rent and all
of the other costs associated with doing business on
the Lower East Side. 

The neighborhood around us has been increasingly
consumed by "luxury condominiums", boutique hotels and
glass towers, all making the value of our salvaged
space worth more then our business could ever
realistically support. We have also been repeatedly
harassed by the city's Quality of Life Task Force
which resulted in the debilitating closing of the
))sub((tonic lounge in January. Coincidentally, this
campaign began as our immediate neighbor, the Blue
Condominium building - a symbol of the new Lower East
Side - prepared to open its doors. 

As a business, we take responsibility for mistakes
made along the way. If profit had been our chief
motivation we could have changed our programming to
something more mainstream and financially lucrative.
Instead we were more committed to a certain type of
music and loyal to the community that supported us. As
a result, we've always just survived but never really
prospered. It is, however, unfortunate that it is so
difficult for small businesses to operate in this city
and that a chain store that can afford a high rent is
more desirable than a place like Tonic that has a
different kind of value. 

While this is certainly the end of Tonic at 107
Norfolk Street, we remain committed to what Tonic
represents and plan to try again in some form as soon
as possible. In the interim, Tonic will make efforts
to present new music in existing venues such as the
Abron's Arts Center located just a few blocks away. 

We invite you to join us as often as you can over our
remaining days to help us celebrate Tonic and more
importantly the amazing artists, our unwavering staff,
and the nurturing community that made Tonic possible.
It’s because of you that we’ve stayed open as long as
we have. Thank you! 

Sincerely, Melissa and John 

Contact: tonic[at]tonicnyc.com