The End Of The Legendary North Star Bar
By Michael Cerio
"Re-Opening Soon. Hip Cool Name To Come."
So reads the website for the legendary North Star Bar (2639 Poplar St.) which will close its doors on Saturday, October 17th. Unfortunately, no matter what the "hip cool name" is, there will be no more live music when the spot reopens.
Throughout its existence, North Star was a stepping stone for bands coming up and coming through Philadelphia. Intimate and corroded in all the right ways, music at North Star was personal because it had to be. Pressed into a small room on Poplar Street, countless nights were spent discovering something new or getting something special from a band looking for more of a connection. In the hierarchy of the Philadelphia concert scene, North Star Bar always seemed like a great place to start, and when folks duel with fandom of when you got on-board with a band, it was always the trump card that beat a "Trocadero" or a "TLA".
Now it's just a restaurant.
"Moving forward! Good things to come to Fairmount (slash) Brewerytown. A new name, even better food, 'more better' beer and lots of cool fun stuff" states the site before they go on to thank those who have come to the Fairmount landmark over the years. "The most important thing for us is to be grateful... so...
thank you regulars! Thank you fans! Thank you bands! Thank you Philadelphia!"
With the boom of venues in Philadelphia, this out-of-the-way bar just couldn't compete. We are in a beautiful time where music and the bands we love are more accessible than ever, with Hall & Oates or Hop Along coming to christen a new joint it seems monthly. However, there's something to be said for this relic of rock.
"So celebrate the great bands you've seen at the North Star and the friends you have made here! You've all been a part of this stellar music scene and history, and nobody can take that away from you!" continues the website's goodbye.
The bar will continue serving through Saturday.
