New Brookland Tavern, Columbia Music Staple, to Close in May

Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern, a cornerstone of the Five Points live music scene, will close its doors at the complete of May, marking a significant loss for the city’s arts and entertainment community. The venue announced the closure Friday night via a Facebook post, hinting at future plans but providing no specific details.

A History of Challenges

The tavern has faced considerable hardship in recent years. After relocating from West Columbia to its current location at 632 Harden St. In Five Points in December 2023, the venue struggled financially according to the Post and Courier.

In November, New Brookland Tavern launched a GoFundMe campaign and hosted a benefit concert to raise $50,000 to cover back rent and other expenses, successfully securing enough funds to continue operations temporarily . The venue briefly closed in the summer of 2024 due to issues renewing its alcohol and retail licenses related to tax concerns, but reopened after another successful fundraising effort that brought in over $25,000 from the community .

Looking Ahead

The Facebook post indicated the venue has a plan for the future, but details remain scarce . The closure of New Brookland Tavern represents a loss for the local music scene and raises questions about the sustainability of independent venues in Columbia’s Five Points district .

WIS News 10 is continuing to follow this developing story .