The Victorian, the three-story club in Santa Monica that has been a cornerstone of the city’s nightlife for two decades, is closing at the end of October and making way for a private wellness club, the Santa Monica Daily Press reports.Built in 1892 and located one block from the beach, The Victorian operated as a daytime restaurant and transformed into a multi-floor nightclub Thursday through Saturday, with DJs spinning across its basement, main room and upstairs Birdcage.
Santa Monica City Council records show the city voted 7-0 in March to transfer the lease to The Santamonican Club, LLC, which plans to convert the space into a private members club featuring a pool, spa, fitness center, coffee bistro and a space for family-friendly programming.The 12-to-18-month renovation will reportedly overhaul the nearly 123-year-old property from the inside out.
The Victorian’s proprietors announced the news on Instagram, confirming its final night will be its annual Halloween party on October 31.“Legendary venue,” LA-based DJ and producer Goshfather commented.
“So many amazing memories.” The Victorian’s closure is part of a broader and more painful contraction in LA’s hospitality industry, where soaring rent, rising labor costs and last year’s catastrophic wildfires have forced beloved institutions to close.A prime example is the cocktail bar Employees Only, a former celebrity haunt in West Hollywood that recently poured its final drink.
Its managing partner, Tom Sopit, described the closure as a “death by a thousand cuts” in a statement to Eater Los Angeles.Scroll to continue more from edm Dubstep Pioneers Skream and Benga Set for Live Talk on How the Genre Began The transformation of The Victorian into an exclusive, high-end wellness destination also speaks to a deeper cultural shift.
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