After a Decade in Ditmas Park, Beloved Music Spot Bar Chord Has Closed Its Doors for the Final Time
Neighborhood favorite bar and live music venue Bar Chord has said so long to its Ditmas Park community after 10 years of pouring pints and providing a platform for musicians.
Cortelyou Road’s Bar Chord, shown here in 2020, has closed after 10 years in the neighborhood. Image via Google Maps
Beloved neighborhood bar and live music venue Bar Chord has said so long to its Ditmas Park community after 10 years of pouring pints and providing a platform for musicians.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, owners Jonny and Christy Sheehan announced that night would be the final night for the 1008 Cortelyou Road mainstay.
“It’s hard to believe that it’s been a decade since we made the dream of opening a little music bar in Ditmas Park a reality. Nothing lasts forever and it is time for us to move on. We are filled with gratitude for the amazing community that is the Bar Chord family. There were marriages, babies and so many friendships formed. Most of all there was music. We want to thank every musician who ever graced our little stage for the greatest gift there is, MUSIC. Music has the power to connect, to heal, and to show and share love at the highest level,” the owners wrote in the post.
The couple, who both have backgrounds in the music industry, said through Bar Chord they had aimed to showcase the great artists all around without the barrier of a cover charge and they thanked the community for receiving such a diverse range of talent.
“There were many challenges along the way, the biggest being the pandemic, but with the loving support of this community we persevered. We want to thank all of our staff past and present for their hard work and dedication … We leave with full hearts and excitement for the next chapter.”
According to a 2018 interview in Red Hook Star Revue, the Sheehans had the philosophy that “music is love” and they showed that in the ways they did business – including paying their artists fairly (unlike many other city venues) and not charging covers.
“Our accountant thinks we’re insane,” Christy said in the interview. “But Jonny and I have had many heart-to-heart talks about it, and we’re willing to give up a certain amount of income in order to support art. I believe New York has to be a place where working artists can live. I watched the drain of artists move to Austin or Nashville, all those places. I grew up in New York where there was music everywhere. I miss that and love that.”
On social media, people lamented the dwindling number of live music venues in the city and the changing landscape of Ditmas Park and Cortelyou Road in particular. Just weeks ago, longtime neighborhood favorites Farm on Adderly also announced it was shutting down, and Ox Tavern recently closed, although sister restaurant Westwood continues nearby.
Some speculated on social media that lease prices could have something to do with the sudden closure of Bar Chord. Brownstoner reached out to the Sheehans for comment but didn’t hear back by the time of publication.
“My first two ‘nights out’ in Ditmas were Bar Chord and Farm on Adderley,” said a commenter named pachangoose on Reddit. “Cinco de Mayo, Ox Tavern both closed as well — clearly these places are going to be replaced with other restaurants/businesses as the neighborhood grows in popularity, but definitely a bummer how quickly things are changing.”
Related Stories
- After Pandemic Pivot and Liquor License Delay, Red Hook’s Fort Defiance Reopens for Cocktails
- Super Secret Arts Performance Venue Opens in Gowanus, Launches Membership Model
- Renovated Cortelyou Library in Ditmas Park Welcomes Back Readers
Email tips@brownstoner.com with further comments, questions or tips. Follow Brownstoner on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.
What's Your Take? Leave a Comment