Owner Matt Feigenbaum, 43, said the live music venue’s profits were actually increasing when its doors shuttered, but that couldn’t counteract mounting debts.
Now, Feigenbaum says he’s rested and ready to have another go at making the 500-capacity venue a success.
“It won’t happen unless I start with a clean slate,” he said, adding that he’s cleared city and state debts, and is on his way to paying off remaining federal taxes and minor outstanding invoices. “It’s not impossible by any stretch of the imagination.”
That has become a kind of a motto for Feigenbaum, a former health-care lawyer who closed the Nightlight once before for several days in July 2007, when he couldn’t pay $26,000 in state taxes. Combined with late fees on the taxes, Feigenbaum raised nearly $40,000 to reopen, but faced a security bond of $30,000 to ensure that he didn’t miss payments again.
Feigenbaum, who originally sought to find a new owner for the business at 211 E. Chestnut St., said he’s learned his lesson and will fundraise extensively to finish paying off debts and to accumulate substantial startup capital before reopening.
“None of this one step forward, a third of a step back crap anymore,” he said. “I was on the verge of going out of business every day and it finally happened. And now that it has, there’s a big hole.”
Feigenbaum still owns the Nightlight, and renewed a fiveyear lease on the space with Daylight Properties in February.
After speaking with several potential buyers, he realized he wasn’t ready to quit. “I was absolutely exhausted, burned out (when The Nightlight closed). But I’ve gotten rest. The disappointment, the sadness, the loss was there, but now I’ve got my legs back under me. The passion never went away.”
Money isn’t the only hurdle as Feigenbaum looks to reopen. The Nightlight’s liquor license is up for renewal in July. The business has never had a liquor license violation, but Feigenbaum said he expects potential delays as he considers switching to an entertainment facilities license, which is geared toward businesses that hold fewer events but allows underage patrons to attend if prevented from drinking alcohol. If Feigenbaum decides to stick with his current spirits, beer and wine restaurant license, he said he’ll likely operate five days a week, instead of the previous seven.
Overall, Feigenbaum said his business model “won’t change terribly,” though he’ll consider adding monthly dance-driven events, in addition to making some management changes.
Feigenbaum also aims to erect a marquee on the building’s Chestnut Street side, and to invest in more aggressive, targeted marketing.
Daylight Properties owner Bob Hall said he’s eager to see The Nightlight succeed.
“It’s one of the few places in town where you can rock out and make all the noise you want and no one complains,” Hall said. “If (Feigenbaum) was to leave I could raise the rent, but I’m honoring all the time and materials he put into that place and hoping he can make it work.”
Feigenbaum, who first opened The Nightlight’s doors in September 2004, transformed the Chestnut Street space from a dingy basement thrift store into a multi-room bar that regularly showcased big-name national acts.
“(The Nightlight) was the premier place for music in town and in the county,” Hall said. “(Feigenbaum) has had five years of experience in this town and he should be able to dial in. I know his dream is to have this thing successful, so I hope he makes it.”