It’s finally happened, the longest running live music venue in Houston has been sold. Fitzgerald’s, on the corner of White Oak Boulevard. and Studemont in the Heights, is now owned by an investment group. After more than 40 years in the live concert business, what the future holds for the iconic venue is yet to be seen.
Sarah Fitzgerald sold the property to Easy Park out of Chicago, though little has been said about how long the property will remain a music venue, nor what the re-devlopment of the space will be. Since 1977, Fitzgerald’s has hosted concerts from the likes of Father John Misty, Ariel Pink, Sonic Youth, and more local performers than anyone can count.
With a total of almost 37,000 square feet, the property that houses the venue and three lots behind it, is a jewel for any real estate developer looking to cash in on such a large commercial corner in the newly revitalized Heights area. The club hasn’t been as booming since allegations of racism involving owner Sarah Fitzgerald, surfaced last year. Since then, the venue has quietly hosted locals and smaller country acts primarily.
What the future holds for the venue and a timeline for how long it has to stay open is yet to be seen. The Houston Press will keep you updated as this story develops, and will get more details over final shows and when we could see the space re-imagined.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2018.
