Saint Vitus Bar, the long-running Brooklyn metal venue, has permanently closed its location on Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint.
The club had been closed indefinitely since February after the NYC Department of Buildings cited code violations, with authorities shutting down operations during the middle of a set by NYHC band Mindforce.
The violations included a lack of maximum occupancy signs, allegedly exceeding the allotted maximum capacity multiple times, and operating as a food/drink establishment without the proper certification.
The venue’s founders formally announced the closure on social media, and left the door open for a possible re-opening at a new location:
“1120 Manhattan Ave. 2011-2024
Saint Vitus Bar to be continued…
Thank you to everyone who was a part of it.
Love and Hails,
Arty, George, David”
Many notable metal artists lamented the closure in the comments, including Anthrax’s Scott Ian, Suicidal Tendencies/ex-Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg, and more.
“Thank you for so many amazing memories,” commented Weinberg.
On the bright side, in the months since the initial closure, the Saint Vitus promoters have been helping book shows at other venues around the city, so it’s conceivable that they are looking to lock down a new location where they can continue to host their own live programming.
Saint Vitus Bar became an institution for live heavy music in North American during its run in Greenpoint after opening in 2011.
Rising metal/hardcore acts, established scene vets, and reunited legends could be found on its stage on any given night, and the best tour packages always had an obligatory stop at Saint Vitus slated in. With walls painted black, adorned with occult iconography and choice metal memorabilia — a signed LP by Saint Vitus (the band), a statue of King Diamond, etc. — the dimly lit space was a proper, intimate setting to witness the best bands in the genre.
The venue also famously hosted a post-Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony performance by the surviving members of Nirvana, who played a full set with guest vocalists like Joan Jett, St. Vincent, and Kim Gordon.
Below you can see the post from the venue founders announcing the closure of Saint Vitus Bar’s Greenpoint location.