Iconic Melbourne venue Cherry Bar is set to re-open its doors in just over a week, and now its owner James Young has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help the bar get back on its feet.
The news follows an announcement by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews that coronavirus restrictions on venues in his state will ease in the next couple of weeks. From Monday, June 22nd, the cap on people attending indoor spaces including cafes, restaurants, pubs, cinemas, libraries and more, will increase from 20 to 50.
Cherry Bar is looking to open its doors on Wednesday, June 24th with a maximum capacity of 28, but Young is hoping to get some help from the bar’s patrons. He’s launched a fundraising campaign through Pozible, which is set to reward loyal punters with “money can’t buy” value.
‘The COVID-19 Pandemic has hit the local live music sector hard. We were the first to be closed and we will be the last to be allowed to re-open,” says Young.
“For three months now, no income has come in at all, and yet core costs such as rent, insurance, maintenance, etc. continue to roll in. Many Melbourne live music venues will never recover from this brutal hit.
“Some will never return and sadly will never be replaced. Cherry Bar has been a fixture of the Melbourne dive bar scene for over 20 years now and we reckon we’ve figured out a way to guarantee our return and our future, and that solution is… YOU!”
So what can you get for your money? Well, anyone who contributes between $100 to the cause will have their names immortalised on a plaque on the Cherry wall, as well as tickets with a plus one, as well as a Cherry tea towel.
If you want to throw in $1,000 you’ll get free entry to Cherry Bar, with a plus one, for an entire year! Plus a highlighted name on the Cherry wall, and a tea towel.
Finally, if you’ve got a spare $5K – you’ll get guaranteed entry with plus one FOREVER! (plus the other goodies).
‘We are going to create a permanent lightning bolt-shaped display on a featured wall inside Cherry Bar, made up of a limited number of individual plaques naming and honouring the pledges of support from our giving punters,” explains Young.
“It’s a big ask. It’s a desperate time. We sincerely hope that you can help Cherry Bar survive now and help save rock n roll in this country! Get Cherry Back In Black!”
At the time of writing, the Pozible campaign had received over $55,000 of its $75,000 target, with 14 days left to pledge.
Check out Child performing at Cherry Bar in 2017:
