MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Black Lodge announced on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024, that the business will be closing its doors after five years.
"With heavy hearts, we must announce that Black Lodge is closing its doors after five unforgettable years," a statement Black Lodge made to Facebook said. "Your unwavering support, especially through the challenges of a global pandemic, has made this journey more magical than we ever could have imagined."
Officials cite the "weight of exorbitant rent and the crippling debt" it incurred during COVID-19 as the reason for the shutdown.
"We’ve fought hard, but the reality of a struggling economy means that nights out have become a luxury that many can no longer afford," the statement said.
The video store will be moving to a new location, which Black Lodge will be announcing soon.
"As we close this chapter on the venue, we hope that the memories you’ve made at Black Lodge will live on. Thank you for being part of our story," the statement said.
Black Lodge will be open this weekend for anyone to celebrate the venue one last time.
In 2021, Black Lodge set up a GoFundMe asking for money from its patrons.
In the restaurant's most recent post, a Facebook commenter asked the business what anyone can do to save it, and Black Lodge responded by saying "it would require a sizeable fundraiser and [they] did not want to ask the community to do such a thing again."
Read Black Lodge's full statement on Facebook HERE or below.