For a long time, the old Weeks-Allen Motors building has been one of the more intriguing real estate plays in downtown Durham, with on-site parking, Alivia's-style big garage doors, and a funky shape making it a much-rumored site for everything from restaurants to the Durham Central Market food co-op.
There's plenty of other action happening in the vicinity, from Common Ground green building supplies and Cross-Fit Durham to Fullsteam Brewery under construction across the street, and with Manbites Dog Theatre and Claymakers just down the street, along with the under-renovation King's Sandwich Shop.
And now, you can add music and nightlife to the picture. BCR has learned that there is at last a modern use planned for the building at the corner of Geer and Rigsbee downtown.
Word is there's a pending bar/club set to open in the Weeks-Allen building, possibly as early as late spring/early summer.
The club is rumored to be known as "The Geer," with one of the bookers behind downtown Raleigh's popular Tir na nOg Irish pub and bar reported to be involved.
Not much more to go on at this point -- but the principals behind the new site have a blog set up (bullcitygroup.com) along with the Twitter account @DurhamMusic. Follow those to learn the latest about the project as we know it, too. You'll be in good company; many of the area's hot local bands, from Megafaun to The Beast to Future Kings of Nowhere are all followers, as is Indy music wag Grayson Currin.
(Image courtesy Gary Kueber's Endangered Durham web site.)
Fantastic!
Posted by: Steve Graff | February 12, 2010 at 12:56 PM
There's a Facebook page thingy you can become a fan of: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Durham-NC/The-Geer/339274916101
Posted by: Ross Grady | February 12, 2010 at 01:26 PM
Great!
Posted by: Sandra | February 12, 2010 at 02:05 PM
So great to see this amazing building being used! Can't be too soon.
Posted by: Derrick Phillips | February 12, 2010 at 04:01 PM
WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD! Very exciting news.
Posted by: Sean Lilly Wilson | February 12, 2010 at 06:07 PM
How about calling it "The Gear" and using a gear type / cog for a logo, being in the industrial/warehouse section of town...it's a nice play on words...just my 2 cents
Posted by: James | February 12, 2010 at 08:52 PM
...nevermind, just looked at the facebook page...already ahead of me :)
Posted by: James | February 12, 2010 at 08:53 PM
Let's not forget the venerable bar-type institutions just down the street too, the All-New Visions and the Esquire Lounge.
Posted by: hovercraft | February 12, 2010 at 09:23 PM
with the gear logo and possible hangout of local engineering schools and DIY folks, could this be the Southeast's first Steampunk bar? Boing boing here we come.
Posted by: mark d | February 13, 2010 at 11:04 AM
LOL @ Hovercraft
Posted by: TSQ75 | February 13, 2010 at 11:28 AM
Thank you dear God, my city is finally starting to get it. I won't have to be stuck in New York City forever.
Posted by: Dwayne | February 13, 2010 at 01:06 PM
Isn't that right across from FullSteam? New nightlife district a stones throw from my house!
Posted by: Stockard Channing | February 13, 2010 at 04:21 PM
Jinkies! I was walking by that building the other day and thinking to myself what a sweet property it was for a mixed restaurant/bar/club. The garage bays make for great dining in the summer time.
Look forward to it.
Posted by: patrick | February 15, 2010 at 08:57 AM
THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME! Nice to see we'll have a bigger music venue place! Durham needs one and we definitely have the demand for it.
Posted by: Nilsson Schmilsson | February 15, 2010 at 05:43 PM
Well there's also the Cat's Cradle-size venue opening in Golden Belt as well.
Posted by: Jonn | February 16, 2010 at 09:51 AM
This post needs an update. The Durham Music Venue is now called Motorco Music Hall. Schedule is posted up at http://motorcomusic.com.
Posted by: Jeremy | September 20, 2010 at 01:07 AM