Common Grounds may have closed its doors for good, but the former music venue's premises at 210 SW Second Ave. won't be closed for long.
In the wake of one of Gainesville's premier establishments for both local and nationally renowned names in entertainment, the landmark downtown venue will be adopting a new persona: Double Down Live.
"Right off the bat we're giving the place a facelift to give it its own identity," said Pat Lavery of Glory Days Presents. "Most of the staff is staying, and we're looking to have the same community vibe that Common Grounds did. They had a good format and a good structure, and we're just looking to improve on what they did."
Lavery, along with owner Moe Rodriguez and bar manager Jeremy "Doc" Murdock, are planning for Double Down to have what they refer to as an "open-door" policy when it comes to the acts they will be booking at the new venue.
"A place like this can't survive without community support. We want people to be involved because to us, it's all about the community," Lavery said. "We always want live music to be the focus of this establishment. Anybody who has a good event or knows a good act, we want it here. We want it to be a diverse space."
Some of the additions the Double Down crew is adding in order to achieve this diverse community feel include more outdoor TVs, an upgrade to the air conditioning system and more frequent visits by the Pelican Brothers food truck.
"We're going to start showing more games out here, and we hope more people will be able to come out and watch the Gators when the seasons start. The Pelican Brothers food truck will be remaining here as well."
Double Down opened its doors Monday with a karaoke evening and hosted its official open house Wednesday night.
This evening, the venue will have its first local comedy showcase at 9 p.m., hosted by Evan Rocha. Friday night, the Legendary JCs with Micah Shalom & The Babylonians will take the stage.
"What people want to see is what we want to bring here," Lavery said. "If the community wants swing dance or polka, we'll bring it here. We're not opposed to any type of music; if people ask for it, we'll get it."
For the last 15 years, the unassuming exterior of Common Grounds has seen many faces pass through its doors, from Talib Kweli to Gainesville's own Less Than Jake.
Yet, as with all things in life, a legacy must eventually pass to allow the next generation an opportunity to make its own name. From the work that has been put into creating a new identity for the building to the ideology behind Double Down's approach to potential acts, it may prove to be just as special as Common Grounds.
