After more than 34 years in business, Gabby91裸聊视频檚 Country Cabaret has succumbed to the mounting financial pressures of the coronavirus pandemic.
Owner Steve Gallagher, took to social media on Tuesday, May 26, to announce the permanent closure of the bar and live entertainment venue in its current location on Fraser Highway.
READ MORE:
A silver lining packed within that time are the memories of countless country artists who got their start performing live at the nightclub, including Dallas Smith, Chad Brownlee, Washboard Union, and Aaron Pritchett 91裸聊视频� to name a few.
Mitch Merrett, a Langley producer, songwriter, and performer said he literally got his very first start there.
91裸聊视频淏ack a few, well, quite a few years ago, every Wednesday was jam night and I was a regular there,91裸聊视频� he recalled. 91裸聊视频淚 started performing there when Aaron Pritchett was looking for a new guitar player. And we spent a good number of years as one of the regular bands.91裸聊视频�
Merrett said he met many good friends and colleagues because of 91裸聊视频渢hat Honky Tonk.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淪o many great memories in that bar91裸聊视频� and a few foggy ones91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Merrett laughed.
Former Clayton Heights resident and country artist JoJo Mason thanked the nightclub for the array of memories.
91裸聊视频淭o see this legendary B.C. country music staple having to close due to the hands of this virus is absolutely heartbreaking,91裸聊视频� Mason told the Langley Advance Times. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e had the opportunity to play this stage, to be a judge for competitions, to party my face off, and even once to sing karaoke. I know our country fans will rally and follow where ever they land.91裸聊视频�
Shawn Meehan, of the country-rock band Me and Mae, shared with the Langley Advance Times that this is certainly a sad day for the Langley country music community.
91裸聊视频淕abby91裸聊视频檚 was a breeding ground for up-and-coming talent. Me and Mae spent a lot of time there learning and growing,91裸聊视频� Meehan said.
Award-winning Langley musician Karen Lee Batten recalled that she had the opportunity to both DJ and perform at Gabby91裸聊视频檚 for more than 15 years.
91裸聊视频淓veryone knows Gabby91裸聊视频檚, even if country music isn91裸聊视频檛 your favourite, and you said 91裸聊视频業 will never go there,91裸聊视频� you have and you did! It was a great party, and had amazing staff,91裸聊视频� she recounted.
Gabby91裸聊视频檚 was one of the last standing country-themed nightclubs in the the Lower Mainland that regularly featured live artists perform.
David Wills, the current president of the BC Country Music Association (BCCMA), called the lose of Gabby91裸聊视频檚 a major hit to the B.C. country music and overall live music community.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to be hard to see people not doing what they do. Generations of people knew Gabby91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频� it91裸聊视频檚 going to create a big hole in Langley,91裸聊视频� he said, referring to the bar as a community partner.
Wills noted the building itself provided a timeless kitch atmosphere that appealed to television and film productions seeking to capture a long gone feel.
91裸聊视频淚f B.C. residents don91裸聊视频檛 have a place to go dancing and to go out, there is going to be a longer term effect on their mental health,91裸聊视频� Wills expressed, hoping for something to fill not only the country music void, but live entertainment as a whole in the near future.
Linda Corscadden, former president of BCCMA for 16 years, said Gabby91裸聊视频檚 was like the bar from Cheers.
91裸聊视频淎t any given time I could walk into that bar and be greeted by everybody I knew,91裸聊视频� she said.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e been going to Gabby91裸聊视频檚 for 35 years, since Ron Barkwell opened it up after Peppers closed down. Never had to wait in a lineup, I91裸聊视频檇 walk in and take my perch in Cowboy Corner,91裸聊视频� Corscadden continued. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 where I learned to dance and it91裸聊视频檚 where I met my ex-husband.91裸聊视频�
Langley resident Kim Loof shared that she had met her husband at Gabby91裸聊视频檚 in April 1994, and married him inside the actual bar in 1999 91裸聊视频� a ceremony she claims will now remain as the only wedding to take place in its confines.
91裸聊视频淲e planned it in two weeks and there was about 75 people there. My husband worked in the back filling beer and I was up front as a door girl,91裸聊视频� she added. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 going to miss all my friends and family.91裸聊视频�
Regulars and friends of Gallagher have expressed their appreciation for the owner and the hope that the beloved country cabaret will take on another form.
91裸聊视频淪teve Gallagher and I are still very good friends, and I know how much he loved Gabby91裸聊视频檚, live music, and everyone who came through the doors,91裸聊视频� Merrett said. 91裸聊视频淚f I know Steve, I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 doubt there maybe a new Gabby91裸聊视频檚 open up down the road. I sure hope so. Gabby91裸聊视频檚 was a staple in the community and was a great place to hang and listen to live music.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频滳heers to Gabby91裸聊视频檚,91裸聊视频� Lee Batten added. 91裸聊视频淐heers to all the staff over the years, cheers to all the wicked bands that have played that stage and the techs that made the music heard. To everyone who poured a drink, [and] most importantly to everyone who drank them, cheers!91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淪o many great memories91裸聊视频y heart is broken91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� Corscadden added, 91裸聊视频渂ut I look forward to hopefully kicking up some dust on a new dance floor if Steve opens up another Gabby91裸聊视频檚. Long Live Gabby91裸聊视频檚 crew and family.91裸聊视频�
The OK Corral Cabaret in Kelowna has been in the city for more than 35 years, and while has not reopened due to COVID-19, it is not expected to permanently close.
Managing partner of the OK Corral Angie Clowry said she and the Corral staff were saddened to hear of the closing of Gabby91裸聊视频檚 Country Cabaret.
91裸聊视频淚t was a warm atmosphere with very similar appeal to our cabaret - filled with down to earth people that enjoyed dancing, fantastic music, cold ones and each other91裸聊视频檚 company,91裸聊视频� she said.
As for the OK Corral she said said the bar needs immediate help finding ways to partially open with health and safety at the forefront or they will be forced into bankruptcy.
Clowry stated, the bar would adhere to social distancing, cleaning and safety protocols if it reopened.
91裸聊视频淲e would love to open up, hire back staff, support local musicians and entertainers by hosting them in our parking lot with a food truck set up to provide food similar to pubs and restaurants,91裸聊视频� said Clowry.
_________________________________
Is there more to this story?
Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
Like us on or follow us on
_________________________________
