In July, we covered Viracocha’s triumphant re-opening after they closed their doors for months of city-mandated construction. Owner Jonathan Segel and Viracocha volunteers worked around the clock rewiring, repiping and soundproofing the venue in hopes of going completely legit and getting a permit from San Francisco’s Entertainment Commission. This week, their work paid off in a big way.

As SF Weekly reports, on Tuesday of this week Segel received a venue permit from the Entertainment Commission and Viracocha is now recognized as an official San Francisco music venue.

This is huge news for Segel, the Viracocha community, and the Bay Area music scene. Bands who played at Viracocha in the “underground days” couldn’t publicly promote shows online or in the press out of fear that the city would find out and shut it down.  Now that Viracocha is above board, local and touring bands can bring much deserved attention to the venue everyone once kept secret.

[Photo: WedgeRadio]