Get ready New York, because some big changes are right around the corner. Pyramid Club, the decades-old institution that incubated some of the most important punk rock acts in New York history, closed its doors permanently on April 1st this year. Now, one of New York’s most promising bar owners has acquired the space and is planning on transforming it into a concept of his own making.
The as-yet unnamed project is the latest plan from NYC bar owner Nicholas Bodor. The creator and co-owner of the popular East Village bar The Library, Nicholas has been working in hospitality since the mid-90’s. In 2005, Nicholas launched Cake Shop at 123 Ludlow Street. Offering a full bar alongside a carefully curated selection of records for sale, Cake Shop soon cultivated a reputation as a must-visit rock club. Hosting established groups like Vampire Weekend and Dirty Projectors, Cake Shop was a regular staple in the East Village music scene for years. Sadly, Cake Shop was forced to close in 2016 despite its success.
Nicholas Bodor has music in his veins, and every venture he embarks on reflects that quality. From the jukebox-centric Library to Cake Shop’s lively performances, Nicholas is so much more than a humble bar owner. With his sights now set on the famous Pyramid Club, he’s closer than ever to achieving his dreams and preserving the legacy of the famous club.
The building on 101 Avenue A has been around since 1876, and has remained a gathering place for cultural collision since its very inception. When Pyramid Club opened in 1979, it continued the longstanding tradition of bringing people together and “served as a safe haven for freaks, geeks, weirdos, and queers”. Hosting the first New York performances of iconic bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, Pyramid Club was at the nucleus of New York’s budding Drag scene, having hosted Ru Paul’s first show in New York in 1982.
With so much history in the building, the closure of Pyramid Club is a bittersweet moment for Bodor. Wanting to preserve as much of the neighborhood’s history as possible, the new acquisition is an exciting opportunity to bring new life to a neighborhood that has been so profoundly impacted by the recent pandemic. The East Village has been home to so many revolutionary cultural movements, and those movements have always found themselves reflected in the many nightclubs and bars that surround the area.
Open daily from 8:00AM to 4:00AM, the new project is expected to attract talent from all over the area. Hoping to bring together musicians of all stripes, Bodor is currently looking for investors to aid him in this new venture. Further details about Nick and his new projects can be found on his Instagram for interested readers.
