The end of an era...take 4

Java Joe's Pub
featuring The Rugburns
02/15/05

Java Joe's closed it's doors for the 3rd...wait, 4th time in the last 12 years on Tuesday night. From Poway to OB, OB again then the inevitable move (and closure) to the Pub version in College Area. This time, there's no talk of relocating. No talk of all ages versus liquor licenses. No talk of open mic nites and cover charges. This time, the closing is for good. Joe himself is moving to the city a la sin, Las Vegas. And don't expect a Java Joe's to show up on the strip anytime soon. In Joe's words, he's "over it". Understandably, since almost a year ago the plans for Joe's sounded like something out of a San Diego music lovers dreamland. Open Mics, bigger local bands, more stage space, better sound, knocking down walls, an additional all ages Java Joe's to be opening soon! It was all too good to be true it seems. Now, with only a minor facelift over the last year and the patio, no longer aesthetically pleasing, with the fencing knocked out leaving an empty lot showing early signs of a construction site. Joe's hasn't pulled the crowd many expected it to pull. Some blame it on location. Some blame it on the lack of advertising. Some put the blame on the venue itself. "Java Joe's hasn't exactly become the local music venue we dreamed it could be," one music fan said, "Not enough stage space and an awkward audience area. But Joe did all that he could do. He tried to keep it alive, and we love him for all that he's done for local music."

The sudden closing of Java Joe's Pub caught some by surprise. Others seemed no more surprised than they were when some of the stars who got their start at Joe's, started showing up on TV daily. It seemed fitting that local super group, The Rugburns featuring Gregory Page and Steve Poltz would help bid the Pub a fond farewell. Two well known local artists who have played at Joe's various venues too many times to count. Page sang some new songs from his latest album, Sleeping Dogs and Poltz played some of his solo tunes from previous albums. Overall, the mood was upbeat as friends, patrons and lovers of the local music scene took in their last little bit of Java Joe's, reminisced about past Java Joe's and looked forward to new legends in SD music venue history.