Developer David Grasso hopes to bring a "state-of-the-art live-music venue" to Fishtown.
Grasso, a musician who plays guitar in Brothers from Another and who owns the record label F.O.F Entertainment, previously tried to open a House of Blues at the Grande (15th & Chestnut) and on Washington Avenue in South Philly.
"Between the TLA and Susquehanna Bank Center there is a gap in that space for a quality entertainment venue, for a place that bands want to play and people want to go and have a quality experience," Grasso said yesterday.
The venue, which he expects would hold about 2,800 people, would be on Richmond Street near Girard Avenue, in what is now a warehouse. The idea, Grasso says, is to have it be a "scalable venue able to configure itself to accommodate different types of events, touring bands, comedy shows, spoken word, theater." He hopes to start renovations early next year.
Grasso says the venue would be booked by "one of the largest promoters in the world." But he declined to comment when we asked him if he was referring to LiveNation, which lost access to a similarly sized venue, the Electric Factory (7th & Willow), earlier this year, when Larry Magid, who owns the venue, left the company. A LiveNation spokesman declined comment yesterday.
Although the property is not near any homes, Grasso said he is committed to getting the support of the Olde Richmond Civic Association and Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA), which have concerns about issues such as parking, traffic and noise, and the space becoming a club. Grasso, who meets with the FNA at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church of Kensington (418 E. Girard), says he has committed not to "do any DJ or club nights."
Like Camden is better? Doesn't stop the Susquehanna Center from doing good business. And you don't have to cross the bridge. If the site is developed right, it will do fine.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatus- Hey Liz, that's not nice— loud01
- wow, combined with that proposed club that's big news. interesting times on the fishtown wooderfront.— dreinterests
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- Sounds like a great idea. However, this being Philly, the NIMBYs will stop this project.— Smokey
- I was wondering what Spider was doing since he was killed of the Sopranos as Christopher. KING~out— thee~KING
- Hey Liz, why all the ahte on Portfishington, have you noticed even in this recession time the cost of a house there oh and not to mention the cleaner St. it has come along way from the days of Kenzo migrants. But being from Camden you arent allowed to cross the bridge. Im from Fairmount— pa2nz
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Phlly Live should take a chapter lesson from David Grasso. How about David save the spectrum...renovate it for the same purpose!
They've got great steak in Fishtown. Lt. Frank Drebin, Police Squad- Comment removed.
- clark kent as much as i would like to see the spectrum saved this guy wants a 2,000 seat venue, not 15,000.— theeman
- This sounds great! That part of the waterfront is perfect. It's fairly isolated and I95 Girard ave exit is right there. Trolley stop right there too i think. The troc only holds around 1200ish people so this is really needed in Philly!— tonyd1
- tell him to put his money into the Boyd theatre.— hdtv267
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