New Live Nation Music Venue Coming to Fishtown
Image from Google Maps.
The old Ajax Metal Co. building in Fishtown—situated across from SugarHouse at Frankford Avenue—is undergoing a $32 million renovation courtesy of the House of Blues Entertainment division of Live Nation. When finished, it will become a 141,000-square-foot entertainment complex, housing two live-music venues, a comedy club, 24-lane bowling alley, distillery and Italian restaurant.
Details about the music venues emerged yesterday at a press unveiling. One of them will be called the Fillmore, a two-level concert hall with the capacity to hold 2,500 people. There will also be a more-intimate club, Foundry, that holds 450 people.
The Inquirer has more on the layout:
With movable curtain walls, adjustable lighting, and infinitely tweakable sound … the Fillmore can be downsized to look good with 700 to 1,000 patrons (mostly standing), or accommodate 1,200 for an “all-seated show.” The facility also will offer subdividable nooks for private-party rentals, serving “anywhere from 50 to 3,000,” said [Production Vice President for House of Blues Dan] Schartoff.
Think lots of sparkly crystal chandeliers, plush (and sound-improving) red drapes, oak flooring, a gallery of vintage Fillmore concert posters. For Philly’s sake, club designers will work the posters into an American flag motif and install a giant “LIVE” sculpture evoking the LOVE statue. Funky details of this National Register site will be exploited, from exposed steel beams to the monster-size chimney poking through the Foundry.
Developers hint that renovations will be complete in about six months.
(h/t The Inquirer)
