Is it the end for Toad's Place?
Yesterday, legal notices posted around the live-music venue at 140 Virginia St. on the Canal Walk stated that because of "serious default in rental payment and other obligations . . . " the venue was closed.
The notice came from Kiniry and Co., the managing agents for Fulton Hill Properties, which redeveloped the Lady Byrd Hat Building when Toad's Place opened in June 2007.
According to Kiniry's posting, a notice of default was given to principal investor Charles Joyner, a local cardiologist, on Feb. 20.
Joyner, reached by phone yesterday, opted not to comment. "I have to hold back on saying anything right now," he said.
Joyner also said he wasn't sure of the status of any upcoming shows. The next concert scheduled at the 1,500-capacity venue is by well-known rapper Busta Rhymes on Friday.
As of yesterday, no shows had been canceled, and the venue's Web site made no mention of the closing.
William Kiniry referred calls to Margaret Freund, founder of Fulton Hill. Freund did not return several messages seeking comment.
The building is owned by 140 Virginia Street, LLC.
Highwater, the restaurant that adjoins Toad's Place, is also closed. The space had been undergoing renovations to be reinvented as a gourmet burger restaurant.
In its year-and-a-half of operation, Toad's Place, a sister location to the same-named venue in New Haven, Conn., has hosted acts ranging from Shelby Lynne to Megadeth to Wu-Tang Clan.
Last month, one person was charged with disorderly conduct for fighting during an event organized by a private promoter; a police report for the incident said that a large crowd spilling outside "was disorderly, chaotic and slow to disperse."
A public meeting was called Feb. 19 by Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Richmond Police Chief Bryan Norwood to discuss the incident and other nightlife events in Shockoe Bottom.
Bill Reid, owner of The National, Richmond's other mid-size venue that opened a year ago, said working in the concert industry requires the strongest dedication.
"Our business has been really good, but we attribute that to good decisions we've made along the line," he said. "This [venue] is our single focus. This is what we do, day in and day out.
"We have a lot of respect for everybody [at Toad's Place], but with a business with a lot of money on the line, it's about running the business as much as it is who is on stage."
Contact Melissa Ruggieri at (804) 649-6120 or mruggieri@timesdispatch.com.
Staff writer Melodie Martin contributed to this report.
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