PORTLAND, Ore. — The beloved Portland music venue Lollipop Shoppe has announced it will close its doors around Thanksgiving, on Thursday, November 27, marking the end of a short but memorable run for the independent concert space.
In a heartfelt post on Instagram, the owners wrote, “Like a lot of small businesses, we’ve been struggling to make ends meet as operating costs continue to rise. We put every part of us into this venue + it’s hard to say goodbye, but we need to restore our personal + financial balance.”
The announcement comes just weeks after a report from the National Independent Venues Association (NIVA) revealed that only 37% of Oregon’s independent concert venues are currently profitable. According to NIVA Board Vice Chair and co-owner of Revolution Hall and Mississippi Studios, Jim Brunberg, rising costs and changing audience habits since the pandemic have made it increasingly difficult for small venues to stay open.
Also Read
Lollipop Shoppe, which opened in fall 2022, quickly became a cherished spot for Portland’s live music scene. However, by mid-August 2024, the venue was already struggling financially. The owners launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for bills, staff pay, and performer fees, as well as to boost marketing and programming.
“This is not a drill + it’s urgent,” they posted online. “Increased costs, summer slowness (it’s hard to get people inside this time of year) + unexpected costs have us riding the edge. We have new business ideas in the works, but the daily chore of finding the money to survive is drowning us.”
The financial challenges have been compounded by the pending arrival of a Live Nation concert venue in Portland’s Central Eastside District, where Lollipop Shoppe is located. Earlier this year, the venue hosted a town hall organized by MusicPortland to protest Live Nation’s planned expansion, arguing that it could threaten the independence and survival of local spaces. Despite community pushback, the Portland City Council ultimately rejected an appeal to block the project.
Now, Lollipop Shoppe’s team is focusing on celebrating their final shows and covering remaining costs through a new online fundraiser, with a goal of $10,000. The last lineup includes performances by Lambo Lawson, El Khat, and the Shadowgraphs — a final tribute to the spirit of Portland’s grassroots music culture.
The venue’s closing echoes a broader struggle for small, independently run performance spaces across Oregon. As costs rise and corporate entertainment companies expand, local venues continue to fight for survival. For fans and musicians alike, Lollipop Shoppe’s farewell marks not just the loss of a stage, but a reminder of the fragile balance between passion and sustainability in Portland’s creative community.
