Future of landmark Columbia music venue is uncertain

The future of one of Columbia's last landmark live music venues could be up in the air.  

The building that houses the New Brookland Tavern, located at 122 State St. in West Columbia, is up for sale and that means the club’s location may change, according to owner Mike Lyons.  

Lyons told SC Biz News he received notice from the building’s owner about a month ago that the building was going to be listed. Since then, Lyons said, he’s been talking the situation over with staff and trying to make decisions about whether to attempt to buy the site or move to another location.  

“The most important thing is that whatever happens, New Brookland Tavern survives,” Lyons said. “It can’t go away.”  

New Brookland Tavern has been a popular draw for national touring acts and a mecca for local and regional bands. The club regularly draws bands from a wide variety of genres including indie and alternative rock, punk and metal. Many popular national acts performed at the venue on their way to larger national attention.  

The venue has a gritty yet comfortable atmosphere and an intimate feel that allows bands to relate directly with fans. New Brookland is also the last venue standing from Columbia’s earlier burgeoning live music scene of the 1990s. Other landmarks such as Greenstreet’s, Elbow Room and Rockafella’s are long gone.  

The building has been a treasured hangout for West Columbia locals since at least the 1980s and possibly earlier, with previous incarnations as a deli and tavern. Its life as a live music venue started around the late 1990s, Lyons said. He worked at the club before purchasing it in 2004.  

A GoFundMe effort to save the club has already raised more than $26,000. Funds raised through the effort could be used to purchase the existing building and renovate it or to make the move to a new location, Lyons said.  

Carlin Thompson, who works as the club’s sound engineer and also books most of the acts, said a new location could be an option that would help New Brookland stay competitive. Many music venues in the area currently have a capacity of 550 people or more while New Brookland’s is 250. 

The existing building needs renovations, including a new air conditioning system and new pipes, Thompson said.  

Whatever the owners choose to do, the announcement has brought an outcry from local supporters of the Columbia music scene as well as fans and performers from elsewhere.  

“There’s been a lot of support from people here as well as multiple national touring bands who have performed here — all of them have donated and people are talking about having fundraisers to support the club,” Thompson said. “Many people are worried they’re going to lose New Brookland Tavern because it’s a place that has always been there for them. We’re seeing the kids of our original supporters coming out to see shows these days and people want to make sure the club will still exist.” 

Concerts at the New Brookland Tavern will continue as planned for now, Lyons said. In the meantime, he’s overwhelmed with the number of people reaching out to make sure that the New Brookland Tavern will carry on, whether at its current location or a new spot. 

“The support has been overwhelming, and I’ve frankly been choked up at a lot of what I’m hearing,” Lyons said. “It’s amazing to see how much this place means to so many people.”