Beloved Manayunk Music Venue The Grape Room Set to Reopen as the Grape This New Year's Eve
After a four-year hiatus, Philadelphia's beloved indie music venue is set to reopen this December 31st under new ownership. Formerly known as the Grape Room, the iconic spot has been rebranded as "the Grape," with three of its former employees – Mose Richards, Bobby Brockson, and Alec Mortarulo – leading the charge.
The venue's history spans over four decades, with notable acts like Jeff Buckley, G-Love, Guster, Dispatch, Amos Lee, Derek Trucks, Silvertide, and The Lumineers gracing its stage. Comedian and music aficionado Richards, who spent four years working at the Grape Room as a sound tech, is passionate about preserving the venue's spirit.
"We're just hoping to continue that in its next season and stage," said Richards. "We want to keep as consistent with what it was in the past as we can, and just keep up with the times." To achieve this goal, the trio plans to maintain a similar atmosphere to when the Grape Room first opened, with regular comedy open mic nights on Tuesday evenings, live music jam sessions on Wednesdays, and scheduled acts every Thursday through Saturday.
The venue's menu will also see some changes, including the introduction of non-alcoholic beer options. The fry kitchen, which has been a staple for years, will now offer a more consistent selection of snacks and light fare.
New Year's Eve Lineup to Kick Off the Grape's Revival
To celebrate its grand reopening, the Grape will host an impressive lineup of local acts on December 31st. Featuring Modern Munk, KOSER, and The Funky T, this party promises to be a blast as Subsellar takes over with his DJ skills accompanied by 3D holographic visuals.
Richards hopes that patrons who come out to the Grape will find mostly the same welcoming atmosphere they once knew. "There's so much history in the building," she said. "It's the biggest honor on the planet to be able to do this."
The venue is set to become a regular fixture in the Manayunk neighborhood, hosting events and performances that celebrate local music and community spirit.
Booking inquiries for future acts can now be directed to Bad Habits Booking, led by Kevin McCall. For those interested in performing at the Grape next year, they can send an email with samples of their music to [email protected].
Will the new ownership bring back the same magic that once made The Grape Room a beloved staple? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the Grape is ready to rock on.
After a four-year hiatus, Philadelphia's beloved indie music venue is set to reopen this December 31st under new ownership. Formerly known as the Grape Room, the iconic spot has been rebranded as "the Grape," with three of its former employees – Mose Richards, Bobby Brockson, and Alec Mortarulo – leading the charge.
The venue's history spans over four decades, with notable acts like Jeff Buckley, G-Love, Guster, Dispatch, Amos Lee, Derek Trucks, Silvertide, and The Lumineers gracing its stage. Comedian and music aficionado Richards, who spent four years working at the Grape Room as a sound tech, is passionate about preserving the venue's spirit.
"We're just hoping to continue that in its next season and stage," said Richards. "We want to keep as consistent with what it was in the past as we can, and just keep up with the times." To achieve this goal, the trio plans to maintain a similar atmosphere to when the Grape Room first opened, with regular comedy open mic nights on Tuesday evenings, live music jam sessions on Wednesdays, and scheduled acts every Thursday through Saturday.
The venue's menu will also see some changes, including the introduction of non-alcoholic beer options. The fry kitchen, which has been a staple for years, will now offer a more consistent selection of snacks and light fare.
New Year's Eve Lineup to Kick Off the Grape's Revival
To celebrate its grand reopening, the Grape will host an impressive lineup of local acts on December 31st. Featuring Modern Munk, KOSER, and The Funky T, this party promises to be a blast as Subsellar takes over with his DJ skills accompanied by 3D holographic visuals.
Richards hopes that patrons who come out to the Grape will find mostly the same welcoming atmosphere they once knew. "There's so much history in the building," she said. "It's the biggest honor on the planet to be able to do this."
The venue is set to become a regular fixture in the Manayunk neighborhood, hosting events and performances that celebrate local music and community spirit.
Booking inquiries for future acts can now be directed to Bad Habits Booking, led by Kevin McCall. For those interested in performing at the Grape next year, they can send an email with samples of their music to [email protected].
Will the new ownership bring back the same magic that once made The Grape Room a beloved staple? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the Grape is ready to rock on.
I'm so hyped for The Grape's comeback! It's crazy to think they've been gone for 4 years and all these iconic bands performed there before 
. New ownership with a new name is always a bit unsettling, but it sounds like the new crew is passionate about keeping the spirit of the venue alive 
. Regular comedy open mic nights and live music jam sessions are a great idea - it's all about that community vibe, you know? And yay for non-alcoholic beer options! 
The lineup for their NYE party looks lit too! Modern Munk and KOSER are gonna bring the energy, and who knows, maybe we'll even get to see some 3D holographic visuals 
. Fingers crossed they can recreate that same magic that made The Grape Room a Philadelphia staple 
. They're reopening as "the Grape" instead of just "The Grape", which kinda feels like they're trying too hard to make it sound new and exciting. And what's with all these changes? Keeping the same atmosphere is one thing, but introducing non-alcoholic beer options and a more consistent snack menu? It sounds like they're catering to a whole different crowd 
. And don't even get me started on the DJ skills... 3D holographic visuals? Sounds like a bunch of gimmicks to me 
. The real test will be when the dust settles and we see what kind of acts they actually book 
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omg i'm so down for this!!! 
i mean who doesnt love a good indie music venue with a ton of history?! 
four decades of bringing us amazing acts like jeff buckley and guster...the grape is more than just a venue its an experience 
non-alcoholic beer options? yes please 
a four-year hiatus might have made us miss it but i'm sure the grape will rock back into our lives in no time 
so fingers crossed for an epic grand reopening on new year's eve! 
the fry kitchen's consistent snacks are gonna be a win too 
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. Non-alcoholic beer options? Yes please! And the fry kitchen is gonna be even more legendary with its new snacks and light fare. I'm curious to see how they're gonna balance keeping it authentic with bringing in some modern twists.
! I'm so down for a night of live music and good vibes in Manayunk 
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. It's clear they're dedicated to keeping The Grape Room's spirit alive, and that's what makes this whole thing so exciting 
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