The Little Malop Street blues bar known for their chicken and waffles, gumbo, peach moonshine and incredible live blues nights is calling it quits due to economic circumstances.
In sad news today, Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues have announced via Instagram that they will be closing their doors with their last day of service on Sunday 30 June 2024.
The post from owner’s, the namesake Pete Raimondo and wife Kerri cited economic circumstances as the ultimate nail in the blues coffin.
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It read, “After an amazing 10 years of bringing the tastes & sounds of the South to Geelong and beyond, it’s time to make the hardest call of all. Pistol Pete’s Food N Blues will be closing on the 30th June 2024.”
“The struggle to maintain the businesses’ viability has been ongoing for quite a while and we have tried our best to work through the many challenges that have landed on our doorstep, with a positive attitude & a smile on our faces. As we are seeing all too often lately, many food & music venues are closing due to economic circumstances & changes in the way people choose to socialise & entertain themselves. From the increase in the cost of living, the cost of goods, insurances, staffing, power & gas and the decrease in customers and the amount they spend, we too have had to take a hard & honest look at where we are & what we need to do going forward. With all that in mind and our lease being up for renewal, we have decided that this is the right time to bring Pistol Pete’s to a close. This has been a very difficult & confronting decision for us to make.
It continues, “Over the next 7 weeks, we will continue to bring you the great food & great music that we have become known for. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful staff, both past & present for the integral part they have played in making Pistol Pete’s what it is today. To everyone who has stepped through the doors at 93 Lt Malop St, we appreciate & thank you for your patronage and support in turning a dream into reality. Yes, this is a very sad occasion, but we want it to also be a celebration of what has been achieved, the friends made and the good times had. So, we look forward to you joining us in the upcoming weeks and help us keep those good times rolling! Cheers Pete & Kerri.”
The neon guitar has lit the 93 Little Malop Street live venue location for ten years, bringing the tales, sounds and flavours of the South to Geelong. With flavours from Memphis, Clarksdale and New Orleans, and an aim to create a menu of authentic Southern and Louisiana dishes, Pistol Pete’s was a true slice of the south. Blues, roots and Americana mainstays Nathan Seeckts, Andrea Robertson, Tristan Bird, Owen Kealy and Dillion James have all cut their teeth in the venue with owners Pete and Kerri championing the local live music scene.
Across the month of March the beloved blues bar put on a lineup of events to celebrate their 10 year anniversary with names including Bill Barber, Willie J’s The 6v6’s, Dillion James, Maskell Love Band, Wayne Jury and Eddy Boyle and many more, bringing in the new era with new merch and a new breakfast menu.
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This is a devastating blow for the Geelong live music scene and local hospitality scene, but a reflection of the dire state of the music industry landscape that has seen major music festivals fall over the last twelve months.
10 years as the home for blues in Geelong is a major accomplishment for the beloved venue and hospitality home, with locals encouraged to make the most of the next seven weeks with the blues and roots fixture, sharing stories of their time in the space over a good old southern feed.
To find out about more information about Pistol Pete’s Food n Blues head here.
