This venue has been a staple of Calgary's live music scene. For countless artists, theBlind Beggar Smokehouse was the essence of live music, an inclusive place where up-and-coming talent made their first break.
Owners Patrick Ballard and Doug Dumery said they created a dream together.
As musicians, they wanted a place where everyone had access to live entertainment.
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"Our idea was that my mother would come and feel comfortable, my welding buddy would come and look fashionable. It was about not needing a place...we wanted people to come," Ballard said.
It's where many bands were born.
"Stage he wanted to make a killer," said Ballard. "Even if you're a beginner, you don't have to play behind the community center. We're really taking the stage. We've got thousands of dollars for lights, thousands for sound and smoke, and you'll feel like a rock star."
But unfortunately, after almost 17 years, the venue was forced to close.
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"An empty, soulless building, without people or musicians. What a blind beggar is."
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COVID-19 Pandemic While expanding, Blind Veggar was closed for nearly nine months. Its owner worked relentlessly to recover.
"We never give up," said Dumery. “We fought and fought, but when the restrictions were lifted, there were no sales.
When the maintainers kicked in and you were about to pull the plug, the government gave us a few dollars if you had a little hope," Ballard said. "But when I get to the point where I can't pay my staff, I think, 'I can't do this anymore.'
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For musicians like Phil Dais and Libby Senff of Machine Gun Rabbitthey said they would miss playing there and the loss to their community would be immeasurable.
"There are many talented artists in this town," said Dyce. "It's getting harder and harder to find places to play live music.
"It was more like a venue than a bar. }
"It's heartbreaking," said Senfu. "It was one of the best stages in Calgary. They had a light show and sound system.
"They were very supportive."
Steve McQueen and his band have been playing on stage for years and it's sad to see Blind Beggar near
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"What they brought was a chance to get an audience, but to entertain them." It was also an opportunity," McQueen said.
"You influenced people and made some dreams come true.
It's great to hear that you did, because someone celebrated what you celebrated," Ballard said.
The owners hope that away from the music scene will awaken people to Calgary's potential.
"Not enough people watching," said Ballard. "They're still not fans, so we call them watchers. But I don't feel like enough people are watching.
"This is how there's so much talent out there, I hope it's an opportunity to showcase the fact that people need to see it."
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READ MORE: Canadians are using social media to shed light on live music industry shrouded in darkness by COVID-19
Restaurants Canada has released new statistics revealing how many facilities did not survive the pandemic. Between April 2021 and July 2022, her 459 restaurants are permanently closed in Alberta.
542 restaurants have closed in British Columbia and 79 in Saskatchewan.
Restaurant Canada's Tianna Goguen has no confirmation that these businesses have closed because of her COVID-19, but she said it was likely.
"I'm guessing the impact of the pandemic on the industry has forced them to shut down in some way," Gogen said.
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