Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2011 > December > 28 > Entry
Momo’s closes after 11 years
Just a few days before the final night at Emo’s on Red River Street, Austin lost another popular music venue when Momo’s shut down on Tuesday.
Owner Paul Oveisi, who relocated to New York in November, announced the closure on the club’s Facebook page, stating that the venue was forced to close due to renovations.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce after 11 years Momo’s on 6th is closing,” the message read. “While I cannot go into all the details, legally I can say the following ‘The building that is currently home to Momo’s is under construction and undergoing a large renovation. Under present circumstances, Momo’s will no longer be operating at this location. The building owner is working with Momo’s to secure a new home and hope to find one as soon as possible.’”
Momo’s was located on the upper level of 618 W. Sixth St., the same building as Katz’s Deli, which closed in the beginning of January after 32 years. The building was purchased by World Class Capital Group, which also acquired the downtown buildings that housed the Spaghetti Warehouse and La Zona Rosa, another downtown music club which remains open.
Nate Paul, president and CEO of World Class Capital Group, was not immediately available for comment.
For eleven years, Momo’s has served as a hub of Americana and rock music in downtown Austin. The club, which usually offered live, mostly local music seven days a week, served as a home base for several area performers, including singer songwriter Suzanna Choffel, Band of Heathens and more recently Sons of Fathers. At the time of the announcement, music was booked most nights through March, including a New Year’s Eve show with Austin funk group Foot Patrol.
The closing comes at a time when the future of live music in downtown Austin in uncertain. Across town on Red River Street, rising property values tied to the Waller Creek Tunnel Project threaten to make the district too expensive for music clubs to remain open.
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By Mark Cats
December 28, 2011 9:08 AM | Link to this
I gotta tell ya, Schmomo’s never kloses.
By atx
December 28, 2011 10:12 AM | Link to this
move into the old emo’s spot for emomo’s?
By alexabdratx
December 28, 2011 11:04 AM | Link to this
Emo momo’s, now at the rooftop lounge inside the W. EmoWoMomo.
By truthsayer
December 28, 2011 2:57 PM | Link to this
Piece by piece, old Austin with all its uniqueness is slowly slipping away. New is not always better, its the character and history of a venue that makes a place stand out, the atmosphere and stories. Some of the best music I’ve heard was at Momos. I’ve seen to many bars, restaurants and venues close and move, to be replaced with cold, trendy, soul less places, with nothing to ffer but good looks.
By TravisKendall
December 28, 2011 8:30 PM | Link to this
Good riddance
By Bob
December 29, 2011 12:21 AM | Link to this
Truthsayer, how is a club that opened after the Millenium considered “old Austin”? What are the dates on that era? Seriously, it’s too bad the place closed but it might open somewhere else. New districts always spring up. West 6th Street wasn’t bustling before 2000. Red River was not a district until the last 15 years. Soon, values will drive those places out, except probably Stubbs which owns its property. In 5 or 10 years there will be another hot district somewhere that will clamor for protection from redevelopment. Sometimes new venues and districts work out.
By BobisobviouslyfromDallas
December 29, 2011 8:33 AM | Link to this
Hope it comes back…but that venue’s setup was really cool.
By atx
December 29, 2011 10:26 AM | Link to this
i agree with Bob. Shame it’s closing/moving, but it’s not really old Austin. what then is? antone’s, continental, broken spoke, what else?
By Jonathan
December 29, 2011 7:33 PM | Link to this
Dear Mr. Nate Paul and World Class Capital Group, Please do not turn our beloved city into Dallas or Los Angeles. = (
By Eric
January 2, 2012 8:58 AM | Link to this
“Old Austin” is a state of mind and Momo’s was Austin to the core.
“New Austin” is a private equity group like World Class Capital Group buying up cultural icons we love for personal gain.
World Class Capital Group brought down a heavy hand that legally keeps the Momo’s owner from simply talking about why his business was shut down. World Class indeed.
New districts for music will not spring up in New Austin. All the sound ordinances and council members that side with cranky neighborhood associations prevent music clubs from opening in most parts of town.