In 2006, New York City's CBGB closed its doors, marking the end of one of most storied clubs in rock, punk and new wave history. Now, CBGB is on the verge of reopening, but not quite as fans of the venue would have liked: it's going to be a restaurant in Newark Airport in New Jersey.
While the original club was known as CBGB & OMFUG (which stood for Country, Bluegrass and Blues & Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers), this one seems to be called CBGB LAB (which stands for Lounge and Bar). New Jersey radio station WFMU posted a photo of the restaurant under construction, plus a shot of the rather bland, sandwich-centric menu.
The restaurant will likely open before the end of the year, according to reports.
Although this restaurant is an official CBGB venture, it's worth pointing out that the original operators have nothing to do with it. Club owner Hilly Kristal died in 2007, and the trademark has had a rather convoluted history since then. CBGB Holdings LLC went bankrupt and put the name up for sale in 2010. Gothamist points out that the name was assigned to a holding company, which explains how it ended up being attached to this decidedly un-punk venture.
Although this restaurant may be seen as sacrilege by punk purists, it's not the first time that CBGB has been appropriated in recent years. It was a fashion boutique, and the defunct club inspired the spinoffs CBGB Radio and CBGB Music & Film Festival. There was a CBGB film in 2013.
While the original club was known as CBGB & OMFUG (which stood for Country, Bluegrass and Blues & Other Music for Uplifting Gormandizers), this one seems to be called CBGB LAB (which stands for Lounge and Bar). New Jersey radio station WFMU posted a photo of the restaurant under construction, plus a shot of the rather bland, sandwich-centric menu.
CBGB's Reopening! At Newark Airport: ht @readmyback pic.twitter.com/m9Ay6VaI8j
— WFMU (@WFMU) December 21, 2015The restaurant will likely open before the end of the year, according to reports.
Although this restaurant is an official CBGB venture, it's worth pointing out that the original operators have nothing to do with it. Club owner Hilly Kristal died in 2007, and the trademark has had a rather convoluted history since then. CBGB Holdings LLC went bankrupt and put the name up for sale in 2010. Gothamist points out that the name was assigned to a holding company, which explains how it ended up being attached to this decidedly un-punk venture.
Although this restaurant may be seen as sacrilege by punk purists, it's not the first time that CBGB has been appropriated in recent years. It was a fashion boutique, and the defunct club inspired the spinoffs CBGB Radio and CBGB Music & Film Festival. There was a CBGB film in 2013.
