Celebrating the birth of the Pyramid CLub at Howl! Arts

The book "We Started a Nightclub: The Birth of the Pyramid Cocktail Lounge as Told by Those Who Lived It" is due out at the end of the month. (Dazed has a feature here.) 

The Pyramid, which helped define the East Village drag and art scenes in the 1980s, held forth for several decades at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

In an oral history of the space, Tricia Romano noted: "[The Pyramid] served as a safe haven for freaks, geeks, weirdos, queers, and dreamers to come together and create. Sometimes it was bad; sometimes it was beautiful. But it was never boring." 

In honor of the publication, Howl! Arts/Howl! Archive is currently showing "Pyramid Pioneers," an exhibition showcasing early Pyramid Polaroids and posters by Trey Speegle; video, graphics and memorabilia from Mark Oates; photographs by Lynn M. Grabowski (Pyramid name: Baronessa); Julie Hair and Jody Kurilla's musical memorabilia from their Pyramid series, Tuesday Night Fever; clips from the documentary "Pyramid Club — The Movie" directed by Elizabeth Bouiss; and flyers and photos featured in the book from Howl! Archives' Brian Butterick Collection. 

The exhibit debuted last Thursday (and included a sold-out party at Baker Falls, which opened last July in the former Pyramid space). 

"Pyramid Pioneers" is up through May 19. 

Howl! Arts/Howl! Archive is at 250 Bowery, 2nd Floor, near Stanton Street. It is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Find more book info here.

P.S. update

Thanks to Bill in the comments... I hadn't seen Alex's post yet at Flaming Pablum, which includes some Boss Hog and Cop Shot Cop clips from the Pyramid.

Papered windows at 101 Avenue A, the incoming home of cafe-bar-music venue Baker Falls

A reader inquired about the papered-up windows at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street.

ICYMI from our post on Nov. 28: Baker Falls is an ambitious new project that combines an all-day cafe, bar and live music via the Knitting Factory brand at the former Pyramid Club. 

East Village resident Nick Bodor, who has owned and operated several local businesses in the past 25-plus years, including the Library on Avenue A and the now-closed Cake Shop on Ludlow Street, is behind this new concept.

You can read Stacie Joy's interview with Bodor here.

Last we heard there's an anticipated opening "around April."

Generation next: Baker Falls will bring together a cafe, bar and the Knitting Factory at the former Pyramid Club on Avenue A

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy

Baker Falls is an ambitious new project that combines an all-day cafe, bar and live music via the Knitting Factory brand at the former Pyramid Club at 101 Avenue A. 

East Village resident Nick Bodor, who has owned and operated several local businesses in the past 25-plus years, is behind this new concept that's expected to open in the first quarter of 2023. (He received approval from CB3 for a new liquor license in December 2021.) 

"We plan to operate a café, with coffee service during the day, happy hour, live performances, DJs — all with a rock-n-roll feel," he said during an interview with EVG contributor Stacie Joy last week. 

Bodor previously sought to revive and combine several of his former concepts, including the music venue, bar and cafe Cake Shop (2005-2016 on Ludlow Street) and alt-coffee (1995-2007 on Avenue A). However, CB3 did not approve this for the former Meatball Shop space on Stanton Street in the spring of 2021. 

"Once I saw Pyramid Club was closing, I thought it would be great to just buy that. I sent around a letter looking for investors to my circle of friends and contacts," said Bodor, who's an owner of the Library on Avenue A. "Historically, my projects have been underfunded, and if I'm ready to do another project I wanted a cushion, a certain amount of money. So friends were willing to invest, and then Knitting Factory CEO Morgan Margolis reached out and said he was interested." 

The Pyramid closed this past October after 40-plus years in business between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. The club ushered in an era of socially-conscious drag performances featuring Lady Bunny, Lypsinka and RuPaul, among many other trailblazers. As a music venue, the Pyramid hosted Nirvana's first NYC show in 1989. 

Bodor outlined his plans for the two-level space in a building that dates to the 1870s and falls within the East Village/Lower East Side Historic District... and provided Stacie with a tour of the former Pyramid before the renovations commenced. 

"Upstairs, we aren't planning on making too many changes. The bar stays where it is," he said. "We want people who have been to the space in the last 40 years to recognize it. You will see the old 1987 Knitting Factory logo up in the back. Initial programming will be suggested by Knitting Factory Presents, but we also plan to have strong LGBTQ programming and emerging comics and hope to inspire young bands."

One change coming on this main level: "We are going to install a lot of soundproofing," Bodor said. "A big part of our budget will be for soundproofing." 

Bodor is also planning on some all-ages Sunday matinees. And while there won't be an '80s Dance Party, a staple of the former Pyramid, he may host a Goth Night. 

And on the lower level? 

"Downstairs has a 68-seat capacity, and it's what I call a 'fever-dream' or manor house in terms of décor. Decrepit-looking wallpaper, vintage lamps and amps," he said. "We plan to have tables and chairs and great curated playlists."

Baker Falls will have an electric kitchen for food service and a non-alcoholic drinks program. 

The business will also be a family affair. Bodor's 19-year-old son Angus will have a hand in the day-to-day activities here.

For the Knitting Factory's Margolis, the collaboration at Baker Falls is a homecoming of sorts. The first Knitting Factory opened in 1987 on Houston Street near Mulberry. In August, the Knitting Factory's only NYC outpost closed after 13 years of hosting live music and comedy on Metropolitan Avenue in Brooklyn. 

"It felt like the right time to be back in Manhattan, and this location is and has always been a hotbed for artists, musicians, locals, students and community with a melting pot of so many different cultures," said Margolis, who was born and raised around the corner on Sixth Street, in an email to EVG. 

"Plus, I saw some of the coolest shows at Pyramid decades ago, and I grew up in that area — a lot of memories of running the streets free as a kid. Way before cell phones and the internet. Way before it was 'cool,'" he said. "When I think about the roots of the Knitting Factory in New York, I think 'grit' and back to basics. So here we are." 

For Bodor, he's excited about creating a new era with Baker Falls. 

"We want to honor the history of the Pyramid Club but in a new way," he said. "This isn't just a club — it’s a communal gathering space. Food service, coffee, drinks — a community hub where you can meet and work. We want it to be multi-generational."

Previously on EV Grieve: 

• The next iteration of the Knitting Factory coming to the East Village 

• At the last night of the Pyramid Club on Avenue A

[Updated] At the last night of the Pyramid Club on Avenue A

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Updated 11/28

On Nov. 22, Nick Bodor (the Library, Cake Shop, etc.) shared with us his plans for Baker Falls at 101 Avenue A. The old Pyramid will also feature a collaboration with the Knitting Factory. 

---

The Pyramid Club ended its decades-long run on Saturday night with a Halloween Dance Party Spooktacular.

On Oct. 19, management announced via Instagram that the iconic venue at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street would be closing at the end of this month. 

The club had been dark since March 7, 2020, at the onset of the pandemic. In the spring of 2021, the Pyramid announced that it would not be reopening ... before making a comeback at the end of July 2021, opening on weekend nights in subsequent months. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the two-level space early on Saturday as revelers were starting to arrive and choosing between the 80s Night Dance Party on the main floor or an industrial Halloween with Defcon downstairs.

... by 10:30, the line for entry was a block long...

Overall, the mood was pretty upbeat for the last night at the Pyramid. People were alternately crying and laughing/dancing. 

Meanwhile, there are ample rumors that this won't be the end of the address as an entertainment venue.

Opening in 1979, the Pyramid ushered in an era of "socially-conscious drag performance, led by the likes of the Lady Bunny, Lypsinka and RuPaul," as Village Preservation once put it. In an oral history of the space, Tricia Romano noted: "[The Pyramid] served as a safe haven for freaks, geeks, weirdos, queers, and dreamers to come together and create. Sometimes it was bad; sometimes it was beautiful. But it was never boring."

The Pyramid is closing once again

Photo from July 2021 by Stacie Joy 

Updated 11/28

On Nov. 22, Nick Bodor (the Library, Cake Shop, etc.) shared with us his plans for Baker Falls at 101 Avenue A. The old Pyramid will also feature a collaboration with the Knitting Factory. 

---

The second iteration of the Pyramid Club comes to an end on Oct. 31. 

We've heard rumors from multiple sources about a pending closure this month here at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

Pyramid management made it official with a late-night Instagram post: 

After many glorious years of being part of the East Village community, we will be closing our doors at the end of the month after our final party. 

Thank you so very much to all of our new and longtime patrons and the promoters and DJs who have hosted events at The Pyramid Club. And a heartfelt thank you to The Pyramid Club team that has kept everything running smoothly and kept everyone safe. We are appreciative and grateful to all of you, your support means the world to us. We have loved serving the community and providing a space for all to be free and expressive through the arts, fashion, music and dance. The wonderful memories and friendships we have made will be cherished forever. Spread the love and keep on dancing...

A quick recap of what has happened here. The iconic East Village venue shuttered its doors in the spring of 2021 after 41 years in business, as we first reported. The club had been closed since March 7, 2020, at the onset of the pandemic.

However, the club made a comeback at the end of July 2021, opening on weekend nights in subsequent months.

As we understood it, the daughter of the longtime club owners, who are also the building's landlord, was running the show with a few familiar faces who previously worked at the venue. 

Previously on EV Grieve:

Exclusive: Iconic East Village venue The Pyramid Club will not be reopening after year-long PAUSE

A stop by the newly reopened Pyramid Club on Avenue A

The next iteration of the Pyramid Club reopened last Saturday evening at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. 

There were rumors of a return early last week... before the arrival of a flyer for a "House of Dance" party with DJ Force 1.

   

A quick recap of what has happened here. The iconic East Village venue shuttered its doors this past spring after 41 years in business. The club had been closed since March 7, 2020, at the onset of the pandemic.

Manager Maria Narciso and her fiancé, longtime general manager and house DJ TM.8 (aka Quirino Perez), learned of the permanent closure and subsequent layoff via a text message from ownership in late March.

Apparently, there was a change in plans. (Earlier this year, 101 Avenue A was listed on Loopnet for rent as a retail space. That listing, first posted on March 6, was subsequently removed.)

This past Saturday evening, EVG contributor Stacie Joy stopped by the Pyramid. Given the short notice about a reopening, the space — currently confined to the main level — was fairly empty at 11:15 p.m. 

As we understand it, the daughter of the longtime club owners, who are also the building's landlord, will be running the show. She's joined by a few familiar faces who previously worked at the venue. For now, the Pyramid will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. as they look to build up a following.

Here's a look around reopening night ...

... Beary White, a former longtime Pyramid regular who travels with his own disco ball, stopped by ... (he would later turn up at Drom for Temptation Saturday)...

Stacie then stopped by Drom down the block where Narciso and DJ TM.8 have been hosting their 80s dance party, Temptation Saturday, one of the former theme nights at the Pyramid... 

Upon hearing the news of the Pyramid's reopening, Narciso and DJ TM.8 released a statement on Instagram last week that read in part:

We cherish the times spent managing the venue ... We wish everyone who is involved with reopening well, much success. We want to remind everyone that they have every right to do as they wish with their business, and ask that their wishes be respected.

Another former theme night at the Pyramid, DJ TM.8's Dark 80s Dance Party (dark wave, synthpop and post-punk!) starts at the Parkside Lounge next Thursday night after a stint at Eris in Williamsburg. And on Aug. 28, Defcon NYC Industrial returns for a one-night stand at Parkside Lounge.

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Packing up the last of The Pyramid Club  

An encore presentation for the Pyramid Club on Avenue A?

The Pyramid Club, the iconic East Village venue that shuttered its doors on Avenue A this past spring after 41 years, is now apparently primed for a comeback. 

A tipster told us that the club, still doing business as The Pyramid Club, will reopen here at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street as early as Saturday. 

A "House of Dance" party featuring DJ Force 1 was posted on the venue's Facebook page... the accompanying text states "The Pyramid is back in NYC"...

The event is advertised between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. — with no cover charge. 

EVG contributor Stacie Joy spotted someone inside the space yesterday...

The Pyramid closed at the outset of the pandemic on March 7, 2020. The permanent closure was made official this past April 1, as we first reported.

Manager Maria Narciso and her fiancé, general manager and house DJ TM.8 (aka Quirino Perez), told Stacie the following about the closure back in April:

After many months of asking the owners about their reopening plans and always getting the same answer, "we're not ready, yet" and knowing that now we had a date from NYS/NYC to open on April 2, Quirino asked once again and received a text message reply stating that due to COVID-19, The Pyramid Club will not reopen. 

And of the possibility of the Pyramid reopening under a different name or with new management:

For decades, managers have run The Pyramid Club with unfortunately very little communication from the owners. We don't know what their plans are, as they are very private people and rarely, if ever, talk about their business plans with us. 

At this point, it's not known who might be running the next iteration of the Pyramid, or even if this is a long-term plan or simply a one-night event. 

Since the closure, Narciso and DJ TM.8, who had been at The Pyramid Club for more than 37 years,  found new venues for their 80s dance parties, including Temptation Saturday a few doors away at Drom.

They also released a statement on Instagram "to make it clear that we are in no way associated with any event held at 101 Avenue A, and to remind everyone that we are no longer employees there."

The statement reads in part:

We cherish the times spent managing the venue ... We wish everyone who is involved with reopening well, much success. We want to remind everyone that they have every right to do as they wish with their business, and ask that their wishes be respected.

As we have no communication with the owners (their choosing), we may never understand the why, but we live by The Golden Rule, and never have ill wishes toward anyone. We are blessed to have found venues that have opened their doors for us and our community...

We ask our friends, family and loyal patrons to respect our privacy at this moment. We are not available to discuss anything related with the nightclub's opening. We understand that there's lots of speculation and rumors, and many others who love to create drama, so we remind you that whatever you hear or see written did not/won't come from us, as this is our only official statement.

The only request we have for the owners, is that they return the yellow pyramid logo to Quirino Perez, the rightful owner. This painting was created by his son, and given to his father as a gift. It was used above the entrance for many years. Quirino's son also painted the murals, Rubik's Cube and Pyramid Pac-Man, for his father, and those remain (we hope) at the venue.

When we were fired via text message, we felt for the community and found a way to encourage everyone to keep the Pyramid Spirit alive. We worked hard during the pandemic, during isolation, to keep our community strong with our Twitch livestreams, then we struggled through all the constantly-changing NYS/NYC Health Guidelines to start our live events, becoming the first event to take place in NYC during the global pandemic ... 

We will continue to keep the spirit alive and remind you that Pyramid is just a building, the spirit is inside you and goes where ever you go. We will continue to take you Back to the 80s every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and occasional Sunday and Monday.

We love you just as you are, and thank you for allowing us to follow our passions, and make a living doing what we love to do: Spreading Joy Through Music!

You can keep tabs on their events via this link.

Earlier this year, 101 Avenue A was listed on Loopnet for rent as a retail space. That listing, first posted on March 6, was subsequently removed.

Opening in 1979, The Pyramid ushered in an era of "socially-conscious drag performance, led by the likes of the Lady Bunny, Lypsinka and RuPaul," as Village Preservation once put it. In an oral history of the space, Tricia Romano noted: "[The Pyramid] served as a safe haven for freaks, geeks, weirdos, queers, and dreamers to come together and create. Sometimes it was bad; sometimes it was beautiful. But it was never boring."

Previously on EV Grieve:

• Packing up the last of The Pyramid Club  

Packing up the last of The Pyramid Club

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

Tuesday marked the final loadout at the now-shuttered Pyramid Club at 101 Avenue A. 

After a year-long closure during the pandemic, the owners of the iconic East Village venue decided that they would not reopen the two-level space. 

I was there to see manager Maria Narciso, her fiancé, general manager and house DJ TM.8 (aka Quirino Perez), and filmmaker Rob Barriales, who often shot at the club, remove the famed window mannequin, the party sandwich boards, velvet rope stanchions as well as monitors, speakers and supplies (plus the 1980s electronic game Simon!).

"If it wasn't for the community love and support, the Pyramid Club would not have lasted 41 years," Quirino said. "We're moving on, taking that spirit with us to our new homes. Together, we can keep the Pyramid Spirit alive forever."

Of note is the fact that the club was recently listed on Loopnet for rent as a retail space here between Sixth Street and Seventh Street. That listing, first posted on March 6, has subsequently been removed, but you can view the cached version here.

This past Friday, someone affiliated with the building removed The Pyramid Sign from the doorway.

To keep up with what's happening with Pyramid parties going forward, check this link. 

Previously on EV Grieve

• Exclusive: Iconic East Village venue The Pyramid Club will not be reopening after year-long PAUSE

Fade to black at The Pyramid Club

Late this afternoon, workers removed The Pyramid Club sign outside the now-permanently-shuttered venue at 101 Avenue A... an anonymous reader sent in the top photo... while @drewallen shared the one below...

... and a little later...

As EVG contributor Stacie Joy exclusively reported yesterday, the iconic 40-plus-year-old club between Sixth Street and Seventh Street will not be reopening after the year-long state-mandated PAUSE.

Exclusive: Iconic East Village venue The Pyramid Club will not be reopening after year-long PAUSE

Text and photos by Stacie Joy

The Pyramid Club, a defining venue of the East Village scene in the 1980s, will not be reopening, another iconic NYC establishment to shut down as a result of the pandemic.

Having photographed a lot of events and personalities at The Pyramid Club over the years (including the Harley Flanagan and the Cro-Mags, Lydia Lunch and various anniversary parties), I was crushed to learn that the venue at 101 Avenue A between Sixth Street and Seventh Street would not be reopening after COVID-19 restrictions ease.

Opening in 1979, The Pyramid ushered in an era of “socially-conscious drag performance, led by the likes of the Lady Bunny, Lypsinka and RuPaul,” as Village Preservation once put it. In an oral history of the space, Tricia Romano noted: “[The Pyramid] served as a safe haven for freaks, geeks, weirdos, queers, and dreamers to come together and create. Sometimes it was bad; sometimes it was beautiful. But it was never boring.”

The club continued to attract an audience with a variety of dance parties and themed nights, such as Friday I’m in Love.

Manager Maria Narciso and her fiancé, general manager and house DJ TM.8 (aka Quirino Perez), met me outside the venue yesterday to talk to me about the closure, why it happened and what their plans are going forward.

The Pyramid Club, after 40-plus years, has closed. What happened Maria?

The Pyramid Club closing is another consequence of COVID-19. Once we heard that COVID-19 had reached NYC, we immediately decided to close to keep our staff and patrons safe. In doing so, we became the first NYC business to close. March 7, 2020, was the last time our doors were open to the public. 

No one expected this “Pause” to last more than a year. While many businesses were allowed to open with heavy restrictions, nightclubs and performance venues/theaters have suffered the most. With no relief in the near future, or clear requirements/restrictions for reopening, not to mention the loss of being shuttered over a year, The Pyramid Club owners decided to close. 

Can you speak a bit about how things have unfolded over the past year? Would you say this is solely COVID-related? Did you have hopes of reopening? 

Quirino and I never doubted that The Pyramid Club would reopen. Throughout 2020, and as recently as two weeks ago, we’ve worked on plans to reopen. We reached out to friends in the community to provide food we could sell at the venue, even considered purchasing tables and chairs to place in six-foot squares on the dance floor, among other options, but we were never granted permission to present our plans.

When and how were you notified about the closure?

After many months of asking the owners about their reopening plans and always getting the same answer, “we’re not ready, yet” and knowing that now we had a date from NYS/NYC to open on April 2, Quirino asked once again and received a text message reply stating that due to COVID-19, The Pyramid Club will not reopen. 

Any chance another owner might take over the space/name? Do you know what the landlord might be planning for the space?

For decades, managers have run The Pyramid Club with unfortunately very little communication from the owners. We don’t know what their plans are, as they are very private people and rarely, if ever, talk about their business plans with us. 

You and Quirino have been hosting DJ sets on Twitch. How have those gone? Do you think there’s still a market for what the Pyramid offers?

We have worked really hard this past year to keep our community intact, close, and have grown our audience throughout this Pause. During the tougher months in 2020, when so many people became sick and we all experienced so much loss, we came together, grieved together, and supported one another in our livestream chats, while DJ TM.8 kept everyone’s mind off what was going on outside their homes.

Our community is strong and resilient: we’re survivors, and The Pyramid spirit will live on. The Pyramid Club is not just a building, it’s an energy, a vibe, and it lives inside of all us. 

How do you feel about being a part of such an iconic East Village venue?

DJ TM.8 has been with The Pyramid Club family for more than 37 years. They were his first and only employer since he began working in his teens. He started washing dishes at their restaurants, became a barback at many of their now-closed nightclubs — including The Bank — and discovered his passion for music while working at The Pyramid Club, where he taught himself how to use the necessary equipment. 

He worked his way up from dishwasher/barback to GM and now he is recognized worldwide. It has truly been an honor to have been part of this legendary NYC landmark. He’s very appreciative and humbled to have been given such an opportunity and responsibility. 

I have always been a people person, and planning events was something I’ve done as a hobby over the years. When I met Quirino, and became part of his team, I was able to do what I love and organize events every week. 

Always a 1980s music lover, The Pyramid Club seemed like a perfect match for me. Assisting him these past five years, and being employed by The Pyramid Club has had its ups and downs, but it’s been overall rewarding. You can’t put a price on friendships, and I’m grateful for the many wonderful friends we’ve made while working there.

You mentioned that you and DJ TM.8 are taking your party (or parties!) to DROM on Saturday nights? Is this a Pyramid revival? What are the plans for this new venue and location? 

Because we had no response from the owners for a long while, we looked for venues for booking DJ TM.8 until The Pyramid Club was able to open. Now, with the news of The Pyramid Club not opening, we are excited to announce that we have found a permanent home for DJ TM.8’s events. The Rapture Dark ’80s and Obsession Friday will take place at Eris in Williamsburg and Temptation Saturday will take place at DROM. Details and dates to be announced soon. 

What are your plans going forward, and how can people keep in touch? 

It has been an honor to serve our East Village community at this NYC landmark. We have continued to grow our worldwide community started by the original Pyramid management and patrons. We owe them so much for building that strong foundation. 

Together with all the promoters and events: Defcon NYC Industrial, No Return Post Punk Society, DJ Rob Xtian, Occulture, and Friday I’m in Love, we will carry on and continue to be there for our community. 

We will eventually change the name of our social media pages, but for the moment, we’d encourage everyone to follow us on Instagram and Facebook, plus DJ TM.8 on Twitch.

The Pyramid Club means so much to so many and many have created beautiful memories here. We truly wish we could do something to change what has happened, but we cannot. The Pyramid spirit is inside all of us though and will live on!