— By Jack Morse (@jmorse_) |
Viracocha is done. The combined home-decor shop and venue, which sits on the corner of Valencia and 21st Street, held a meeting last night to announce the news. According to SF Weekly, owner Jonathan Siegel explained the closure as the result of a changing neighborhood:
The main reason we are shutting down is things have changed. We’ve gone from 100 people a night, down to 30 people, we’ve even had three bands play and five people showed up,” said Siegel. “The demographics have changed. The people that live around the vicinity have changed. They’re more interested in going out to get drunk and talk with their friends. And then it also has a lot to do with the artists being pushed out and going over to Oakland.
The inability to make the space profitable comes in spite of significant work last year bringing the venue up to code, in addition to the securing of an entertainment permit this past September—making the once underground venue totally aboveboard.
[Photo: WedgeRadio]
Comments (20)
Honestly, I like the space but I’m generally uninterested in the music they have coming in. I don’t particularly care for the modern Portlandy love of bluegrass or old timey jazz performed by white people. That’s why I don’t go, how about you?
“we’ve even had three bands play and five people showed up,”
Honestly, that sounds like most gigs my band (and my friends’ bands) played over a decade ago.
Yeah, that’s about half the nights at Hotel Utah, and they’ve stayed in business.As an aside, however, screw bands that take the time to get shows, then expect the venue to deliver patrons. *You’re* supposed to be the draw. You have to make some effort to get people out. I played a show once with an opener that drew exactly zero people. They were local. If ou can’t even get your girlfriends to come see you, why would anyone else?
Yet another poorly run business making excuses.
“Yet another poorly run business making excuses.”
Seriously. While some of what he says is true, I live next to this place but went in like 4-5 times total. Don’t really need a $200 vintage typewriter or old beat up jazz records. Valencia being what it is I’m surprised they stayed open that long. I’m still trying to figure out how that place that sells the ridiculously expensive/stupid hi fi equipment is still in business.
Had a very strong trust-funded-clubhouse vibe. Not a place anyone was depending on for their livelihood.
Trust fund, tech fund, or money laundering.
Eat shit techies!
Well, I did love the $50 antique turds they sold at Viracocha. No idea what I’m supposed to eat now.
I may be wrong but they only opened very recently (was it about 2 years ago?). They tried catering to the wealthy trendy types upon opening by selling expensive/old/useless shit. I thought the population of wealthy trendy types is still growing, so why are they blaming that?
Sounds like a poor business plan to me, not necessarily the changing demographic.
it’s the glasses and hat store in the old Modern Times space that I can’t figure out how it stays open. They must own the building and the owner loves hats and glasses is the only thing I can think of….
I’ve been saying, “that won’t last two months” for years now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tnPkQufnZY
Most of these comments add evidence to the reason they decided to close. Because most of you are soulless, self-obsessed, gourmet-gobbling shit bags who decided to bring your brand of “cool” to the mission. Which, in turn, has turned this city into a bad reflection of San Jose. The main reason they closed is because of you. You suck.
Virachocha wasn’t there for very long. They are 100% New Valencia. A more accurate title would be “Same Neighborhood Demographics that Led to Viracocha Opening Finally Guaranteed its Demise”
I’m very sorry to see Viracocha close, but I’d blame the $11K per month rent and construction debt more than the newcomers. It’s almost impossible to sustain an unabashedly idealistic, non-commercial operation with that level of overhead.
Viracocha should be proud of their beautiful creation. Best of Luck to their future endeavors!
What’d you buy there, cool guy?
Actually, the stuff they sold was extremely lame “look at me I’m hip!” type garbage. For people who were trying way too hard, and willing to pay ridiculous prices for it.
Wow! People who want to get drunk (it’s why so many bars exist) and “talk with their friends” are killing my business.
He should have said “I designed my business around people who do not drink and never talk to their friends”.
Am I missing something?
More like “I designed my business around people who desperately want to appear cool.” Now those poseurs have moved on to Oakland and the square techies don’t have any interest in that whole game.
We Poseurs are alive and well my friend. Don’t confuse us with those scummy people we got rid off. And don’t you dare call us square. The square ones are my co-workers who are still in the south bay. Ha Ha losers.