New York City’s B.B. King Blues Club To Close

B.B. King Blues Club & Grill has been a staple venue of the New York City live music scene since opening its doors on June 20, 2000. Sadly, the location on W. 42nd Street in the heart of the Times Square district has been forced to close its doors due to escalating rent. Legendary bluesman Buddy Guy will headline the venue’s final show on April 29.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the news about B.B. King Blues Club’s closing. Despite many sold out shows, the location’s rent escalated to an unsustainable level, leaving us no choice but to close our doors. Unfortunately this has become a growing trend in New York City, with other iconic music venues and businesses falling victim to opportunistic property owners,” said Tsion Bensusan, B.B. King Blues Club’s Chief Operating Officer, in a statement. “This venue’s legacy extends much further than the stage, playing a role in Times Square’s revitalization two decades ago. It is a shame that wasn’t taken into consideration regarding its future in the area. Nevertheless, we feel extremely grateful for the overwhelming support we have received from both fans and artists over the years to create some truly historic and incredible memories in this space. We hope that we can find a new place to call home very soon so we can continue bringing live music to you all.”

As Bensusan mentioned, the operators of the venue are in the process of selecting a new location. B.B. King Blues Club will host Guy, Rick Ross, Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh + Special Guests, El Gran Combo, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic and more through its closing on April 29. Concerts that were previously confirmed to take place at B.B.’s after April 29 have been moved to various NYC venues.

Tickets for all remaining shows are on sale now via Ticketmaster.