EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (CelebrityAccess) — The House of Rock, a fixture in Wisconsin's music scene for almost two decades, will be shutting its doors for good in July.
According to Volume One, a local culture and entertainment publication, venue owner Steven Geitz said he is selling the property to real estate developer John Mogensen, who plans to convert into two "rentable spaces."
"I’ve owned The G.I. since ’88 – I’ve been doing it for 30 years next year. I was 24 then, and I’m 54 now. Back then, 50 seemed so old. But it’s something I’ve been thinking about, downsizing one way or another," Geitz said. "John Mogensen and I have been talking for years, if not decades. This just seemed like the right time to do it. It’s been something that’s been really tough to do. This is a tough decision to make, but it’s the right one for me at this time.""
Geitz first opened the House of Rock in 2000 and since then, the club has become a key part of the city's music offerings, serving as a stage for band such as The Kingsnakes, Trampled by Turtles and Nicotine.
"Basically, it's tragic,” Alex Vang, a bass player for the local band, Orenda Fugu, told WEAU. “It's a landmark place with a lot of buzz. It's the go to venue in town. The music community has been talking and everyone is upset."
