It’s a heartbreaking time in Nashville, with the announcement of the closure of one of the city’s most popular music venues. Exit/In owners Chris and Telisha Cobb announced on social media that their last day of operation will be later this month.

“EXIT/IN is closing Thanksgiving, as our lease ends at the end of the year,” the Cobbs reveal. “It appears that 51 years of local, independent ownership and operation have come to an end. We’re humbled to host this last run of concerts with friends from many eras gracing our stage again. There have been too many incredible moments to count over the 18 years we’ve stewarded Exit/In. It’s an incredibly special place that we are so fortunate to have been a part of.”

The statement goes on to say that Hurry Back, the bar located next to Exit/In, will remain open for a few more weeks. Although the news is disheartening, the Cobbs do offer some hope that Exit/In will remain in some capacity, due to a historic overlay on the building, which should prohibit it from being torn down.

The Cobbs also addressed the GoFundMe money that was raised in an attempt to purchase the building from the owner, who sold it to AJ Capital.

“Over 4000 people donated to the Keep Exit/In Independent GoFundMe,” the Cobbs write. “Revisiting the number of donations and outcry of support gives us hope for the future, and has allowed us to continue fighting. As stated from the beginnings, the funds raised will be donated to MVAN [Music Venue Alliance of Nashville] and NIVA [Naitonal Independent Venue Association] once this process has finalized.

“We love this city wholeheartedly, but are not ok with many current trends here,” they conclude. “We know Nashville needs Exit/In and independent venues like it to continue supporting our community of artists, musicians and the entire ecosystem they center. Thank you again most humbly and sincerely for all your support, for all the shows, and for all the memories.”

Thank you most humbly and sincerely for all your support, for all the shows, and all the memories.

The Exit/In family and Chris and Telisha Cobb pic.twitter.com/2Pazy8n53S

— EXIT/IN (@EXIT_IN) November 14, 2022

While the end of Exit/In as its current establishment is over, all hope may not be lost. After AJ Capital purchased the property last year, they announced they planned to keep Exit/In a music venue, plans they seem to be committed to keeping.

“The Exit/In will remain open, as it has under the stewardship of dozens of operators over the past 51 years, as its irreplaceable self: an iconic Nashville venue and gathering place for music lovers from all over,” the company says in a statement, via the Nashville Scene. “We spent the last year securing historic protections for this special and sacred space, which we’re committed to preserving while providing some long overdue physical improvements. We look forward to the next half-century of moments and memories, and to announcing 2023 show dates very soon.”

Spencer Crandall and Emmylou Harris are among the artists still scheduled to appear before Exit/In’s closure. More information on the remaining shows can be found here.