07/23/2014
Attn: Friends, Family, and Loyal Patrons of PSL,
There are always those times in life when it is essential to refocus, re-evaluate, and perhaps even move on. This is that time. Due to some exciting life changes (wonderful new job(s) and exciting professional opportunities) and the diagnosis of a lifelong, chronic medical condition, it is with some sadness that we announce to you all that we have made the decision to temporarily close Pike Street Lounge.
Words cannot describe how much these last 2 ½ years have meant to us. It is through our little bar that we have developed a closer relationship with our community and a greater love for our city. We so love this bar and all of you who helped create some of the most memorable moments of our lives.
When we conceived PSL nearly three years ago, we envisioned a positive community space on a struggling section of Pike Street. We dreamed of a place that celebrated local artists, musicians, and poets, and featured local brews. We hoped she would become a place where activists, change makers, artists, educators, public servants, and all around positive community members would find a place they always felt welcomed and at home. We are so proud that our vision and our mission were seen through. We have all of you to thank for that.
This decision does not come lightly. It comes after many heartfelt conversations with each other and our business partner as well as family and some dear friends and lovers of PSL. We so appreciate the group that came to us with a plan to conceive a new business model and reduce the workload, time, and effort we devote to PSL every day, every week, every year (you are all wonderful and we will continue these conversations). In the end, at least for now, it has come down to a conversation about love, about life, and about health. We know that as long as the two of us continue to spread ourselves so thin through our careers, community passions, and our business, those three very important components will never reach full potential. Though we are saddened over this time away, we are very much looking forward to refocusing. We look forward to spending time together at home with our dogs, to learning how to manage the diagnosis that was recently dealt our way, to focusing on our professional careers that we both love so much (including FINALLY finishing a dissertation and completing a book or two…), to increasing our efforts with our community endeavors, and, for the first time in our relationship, to spending time with friends and family outside of a bar.
We look forward to seeing all of you out and about in the community as well.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to all who loved and supported PSL and us these last 2 ½ years. Thank you to our family and friends who always visited us at the bar since we were rarely able to get away, to all of the wonderful people who we’ve had on staff, and to all of the wonderful, incredibly talented artists and musicians we’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years. You have changed us.
Pike Street Lounge, as you all have known her will continue to operate until the end of the month. Whether it’s been a day or a year since you’ve stopped in, please swing by to see us over the next week and a half. Our last official day of business for the time being will be next Friday, August 1st. We hope to send PSL out in style.
Lastly, we leave you with a quote two good friends recently passed our way. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream another dream.” –C.S. Lewis.
To new goals, new dreams, and new beginnings.
Much love and gratitude,
