Beloved East Williamsburg music venue to close next week after 10 years

Five years after shutting down for the COVID-19 pandemic, East Williamsburg music venue Our Wicked Lady will close down permanently on Monday, July 21, almost 10 years to the day since it first opened.

Located at 153 Morgan Avenue, Our Wicked Lady was the brainchild of co-owners Zach Glass and Keith Hamilton, who met as managers at Brooklyn Bowl. When they took over the space, it boasted a dirt floor, no staircase to the roof, and barely any plumbing. The duo transformed it into a neighborhood staple that played host to up-and-coming bands and indie faves alike. 

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But like so many businesses, Our Wicked Lady struggled to bounce back after the pandemic in the face of rising costs and patrons who’d rather leave early or stay at home altogether. Glass and Hamilton went public with their struggles last winter, and a GoFundMe raised $42,000 amid a flood of community support. But their landlord nixed a last-minute purchase deal, leaving them no option but to shut down permanently. 

“We were extremely close to locking in an ownership transfer for Our Wicked Lady when we were thrown a massive curve ball. Our landlord decided he does not want a music venue to continue on his property and refused a near sale,” Glass and Keith wrote in an Instagram caption.

“This is heartbreaking news for us. After all our work and all the support from our community, we are devastated to share that OWL will close July 21st, the week of our ten-year anniversary," the announcement continued. "We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for a beautiful decade of community, music, and friendship. We will carry it with us wherever we go from here. Please stay tuned, we are not disappearing from the local music scene. 

“We plan to close this chapter with a BIG bang so keep an eye on the calendar and help us make the next few months amazing by showing up.” 

The final week promises to be a busy one for Our Wicked Lady, with more than a dozen bands announced to play one final set before it shuts down for good. For the full lineup and to buy advance tickets, click here.