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South Street landmark Dobbs has closed

The Legendary Dobbs - which traces its South Street lineage to the mid-1970s when it was the hippest street in town - took to Facebook to announce its shutdown.

The Legendary Dobbs - which traces its South Street lineage to the mid-1970s when it was the hippest street in town - took to Facebook to announce its shutdown:

The Legendary Dobbs is unfortunately closed and all future events are canceled, due to circumstances beyond our control. If you have purchased a ticket on line, your purchase will be refunded. If you are a promoter and have paid a deposit to hold a date, your deposit will be refunded. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

A source said employees learned of the closing at the same time.

Following the closing last week of North Star Bar in Fairmount, this is not a good time for those who enjoy watching acts in small clubs.

The bar at 304 South St. opened as J.C. Dobbs (1974 or 1975, depending on whose account you read). It closed in 1996. It was sold and renamed the Pontiac Bar & Grill, which closed in 2005. It reopened under different management in December 2010, borrowing the original name as The Legendary Dobbs. It changed hands about a year ago, according to state records.

The 2012 documentary Meet Me on South Street: The Story of J.C. Dobbs by musician/filmmaker George Manney lovingly recalled the early days, telling how it was the early, pre-arena venue for such acts as Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Oasis, Green Day, and Rage Against the Machine, as well as Sarah McLachlan and Beck.

The tributes are pouring in on Dobbs' Facebook:

"In a lot of ways, Dobbs is why I'm a musician," wrote one fan. "My dad played there in the early nineties, taught me to play and passed me the torch: "Go down and check out Dobbs!" I've shared the stage with some of the best musicians in Philly and made a lot of friends."

Management has not replied to a message seeking comment.