New Melody Tavern Says It'll Reopen

The New Melody Tavern is gone, but not for long.

The Ballard nightclub, one of the city's primary venues for folk and acoustic music, closed abruptly this week. It will reopen in a few months, say the new operators.

While the name may change, the tavern's music won't, they say.

"It's pretty much going to remain the same," said Patrick Hunter, who took over the tavern's lease. Hunter has been an occasional bartender at the New Melody Tavern.

The New Melody Tavern's landlord canceled the lease this week because of what were described as ongoing problems with the tavern management, including nonpayment of rent.

"I felt really bad, because he's been there a long time, but we just can't operate as we have been," said Ruth Desrosier, operations manager for the Deep Sea Fishermen's Building Association, which owns the building.

Dave Le Margee, the New Melody's former manager, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The tavern's closure leaves at least a temporary hole in the city's acoustic-music scene.

"It was a major house," said Chris Lunn of Victory Music, an organization that sponsors folk, acoustic and ethnic music and publishes a newsletter. "In the immediate future, it will be tough, but I think in the long range things will push back to the level they were before."

Hunter said the tavern will try to continue much of the New Melody's scheduling. That has included nights for jazz, bluegrass, contra dancing, cajun and folk music.

"The thing we want to do right up front is try to work with the people who've been there for years," Hunter said. A new name has not been chosen, he said.