|
|
2000 to ?
The 21st century has brought mixed blessings for First Avenue. In
2000, First Avenue's longtime financial advisor Byron Frank helped
the club take "control of its own destiny," as McClellan puts it, by
negotiating the purchase of the historic Greyhound bus depot that
had been its home for 30 years.
Although safe from eviction, the club has had to
compete for bands with venues backed by large national conglomerates.
First Avenue has also contended with unforeseen
conflicts that troubled the club's future.
In June 2004, then owner Allan Fingerhut fired the club's long-time management team, Steve
McClellan, Jack Meyers and Byron Frank. Fingerhut took the helm himself, swearing,
"I'd have to drop dead before I would ever allow this club to close". On November 2, 2004,
Fingerhut surprised everyone by filing bankruptcy.
Mayor R.T. Rybak and the whole city of Minneapolis were
outraged. Support came from all over the world. With the mayor's
help, McClellan, Meyers and Frank purchased First Avenue's assets from
bankruptcy court and reopened the club just days after Fingerhut had closed it.
Steve McClellan and Jack Meyers are now officially back in charge and have
opened the doors to the thousands of music lovers who are First
Avenue's past and its future.
|