Concerts that include shows by metal act A Static Lullaby and Scottish indie rockers Frightened Rabbit are currently booked through mid-October at the venue, but barring last-minute renegotiations the Knitting Factory's final show will be around Oct. 31, Margolis said. A representative from property manager CIM Group declined to comment, but did confirm that the clubs lease is expiring.
Our lease is up Oct. 31, Margolis said. I've opted not to extend it. Were closing that location, but we are not out of the L.A. market.
Margolis said he was speaking to Pop & Hiss while inspecting a possible new location. Rumors of the Knitting Factory's closure have persisted for more than a year. Last summer, neighbors' complaints threatened the clubs conditional use permit, which a venue needs to operate, and subjected the club to zoning hearings. The Knitting Factory was able to make its case to the city, but Margolis said the battle cost him $200,000.
Margolis said hes been aiming to leave Hollywood since before the struggle to keep his permit began. Ive been looking two years now for the right space, he said. Im looking all over -- downtown, Silver Lake, Los Feliz, North Hollywood, Studio City. Ive looked as far as Alhambra.
I dont want the community to think that the Knitting Factory is done in Los Angeles, Margolis said. Im looking, and have a couple deals on the table. If one of these goes through, there may be a full-on lateral move and no shutdown. It may just be a week or two changeover."
But before anyone gets too optimistic, he adds, “Or it could be a year.
With the Knitting Factory on target to exit Hollywood Boulevard, it will be the second major music-related operator to disappear from the neighborhood. Earlier this summer, Virgin closed its last remaining Virgin Megastore in Los Angeles, which was a short walk from the Knitting Factory (a Hard Rock Cafe will move in to the Virgin Megastore space).
