Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
The Living Room Will Close At The End Of The Month
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 9, 2015
Modified Dec 9, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Dec 9, 2015
Modified Dec 9, 2015
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
(via Yelp)
Last year the Living Room reopened in Williamsburg after it was priced out of its longtime digs on Ludlow Street in Manhattan. Bad move! Williamsburg is more expensive than the Lower East Side now, and most of the new moneyed residents don't want no old time folk club. So it's sadly not a surprise to hear this old familiar tune: the venue is closing.
According to the NY Times, the "no-frills nightclub that gave an early start to Norah Jones... and for almost 18 years has hosted countless singer-songwriters... will close at the end of December." The announcement came from owners Steve Rosenthal and Jennifer Gilson, who also told the paper that their recording studio in SoHo, the Magic Shop (where David Bowie and Lou Reed have recorded) may close, too.
On their Facebook page, the owners posted this message:
I have sad news. The Living Room is closing at the end of December. It seems like we just opened a minute ago. Thanks so much to all the great bands that played here and gave us many memorable nights. There’s still time for you to stop by and see a show in this gorgeous room and visit our always awesome staff. We wish you all the best and I hope our paths cross again! Please keep supporting live music at your local venues.
The venue first opened in Manhattan in 1998 on Allen and Stanton, before moving to its 2nd home on Ludlow Street. It's been operating out of a spacious spot (with a sweet roof deck) on Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg since last October.
Tagged
living room
the living room
venue
williamsburg
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .