In the five years since fire gutted the building that once housed Romantix, Chris Kelley said he and business partner Shawn Tyrrell have been approached several times by developers wanting to repurpose the block on the southeast corner of Ninth and O streets, the one that includes the music club they opened nearly 23 years ago.
“We always just said no,†said Kelley, co-owner and co-founder of Knickerbockers, 901 O St.
But in the past year, they were approached again. Sources have told the Journal Star a developer intends to build a 250-room hotel where businesses including Hungry Eye Tattoo, Recycled Sounds and McCourt’s Ale House are and vacant lots where the former Romantix and Gourlay Bros. Piano buildings once stood.Â
This time, Kelley and Tyrrell accepted the deal, and Knickerbockers will close Dec. 26 after a show headlined by one of its most beloved acts, JV Allstars.
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Proposals had grown more serious over time, Kelley said, and when the most recent was presented, he and Tyrrell “had to sit and talk to each other and re-evaluate things.â€
JV Allstars, a punk pop band, began playing all-ages shows at the club and developed into a late-night headliner once many of its fans and members hit 21.
"That was kind of our little formula,†Kelley said.
Also set to play the last night are The Heat Machine and The Last Slice.
Countless Lincoln and Omaha bands played the long, dark room adjacent to the bar Kelley and Tyrrell built themselves, and the cramped kitchen where acres of cheap tacos were whipped together and sold for pocket change on Thursdays.
The oft-chaotic Killigans sets on St. Patrick’s Day brought crowds to a froth. The Killigans will play their final show there Dec. 12, when they headline the annual “Wreck the Halls†canned food drive.
“It pains us to type this but this will be our final show ever at Knickerbockers,†the band wrote on its Facebook event page. “Please come out and send the old club out in style.â€
On its Facebook page, JV Allstars said: “We'd love it if you came and packed the place with us one last time, and give Knickerbockers the send-off it deserves.â€
Knickerbockers also brought in touring acts -- from pop to punk to rap to blues to actor Jeff Daniels with a guitar. Some shows were, to a degree, selfishly booked by Kelley and Tyrrell. The Suicidal Tendencies fell in that category.
Since opening in 1993, Knickerbockers hosted shows including The Flaming Lips, Guitar Wolf, St. Vincent (way back when she was an opening act), Jonathan Richman, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Ween, Bo Diddley, Todd Rundgren, Cloud Nothings, Aaron Carter and a wrestling federation.
"We wanted to do ," Tyrrell said.Â
Kelley, who founded Big Leaf Productions, said they have no plans to re-open at a new venue but he'll continue to book shows in Lincoln and Omaha -- just not at the club he and Tyrrell bought and renovated.
For Tyrrell, it's too soon to know what comes next. He said he'll spend time with his family and "go somewhere warm."
The owners said more acts, including some reunion shows, will be announced for the last night. They have asked patrons to share memories and post pictures on Knickerbockers' Facebook page.
The Journal Star is interested in them as well. If you have a favorite show, a memory of playing the place, anything, email cmatteson@journalstar.com.
