Boot & Saddle Announces Permanent Closure

Boot & Saddle is the latest casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. The team who ran the South Philadelphia bar and venue announced they, “have made the difficult decision to close Boot & Saddle for good.”

The bar and venue opened in 2013 and hosted over 1,500 shows before the pandemic forced operators to close Boot & Saddle in March. “We hope that this decision will assure that our sister venue, Union Transfer, can survive well into 2021,” added Boot & Saddle’s owners.

Boot & Saddle’s trademark neon sign will remain lit over the next week to allow fans an opportunity to take a picture. The statement also included a warning of what can happen if financial assistance isn’t given to local independent venues:

We would like to take this final opportunity to remind everyone that local independent venues in our city and across the country are in grave danger. Live Music Venues were the first businesses to close and they will be the last to re-open. As other restaurants, bars and stadiums begin to re-open, our doors remain shut. We cannot sell you a contactless takeout or curbside delivery concert. Without some form of assistance, our local music scene right here in Philly, along with countless others across the country, may collapse. We will keep our socials active, so that we can from time to time pass along news and actions that you can take, to help ensure that the remaining venues in Philly stay open.

A “R.I.P. Boot & Saddle” t-shirt is in the works to help support Union Transfer. Read the full statement below: