Lit Lounge facts for kids
| Address | 93 2nd Avenue |
|---|---|
| Location | East Village, Manhattan, New York, US |
| Coordinates | 40°43′37.8″N 73°59′20.3″W / 40.727167°N 73.988972°W |
| Public transit |
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| Owner | Erik Foss & David Schwartz |
| Type | Nightclub |
| Opened | February 22, 2002 |
| Closed | July 30, 2015 |
Lit Lounge was a very popular place in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was known for its music, art, and dancing. This two-story spot had a concert area, a chill-out lounge, a dance floor, and an art gallery called Fuse Gallery. Lit Lounge was a big deal for young people in New York City during the mid-2000s. It was especially famous for its indie rock and electroclash music scenes.
Contents
A Look Back at Lit Lounge
How Lit Lounge Started
Lit Lounge was created by Erik Foss and David Schwartz. They had worked at other cool spots in the East Village for many years. Lit Lounge first opened its doors on February 22, 2002. Soon after, on March 16, 2002, Fuse Gallery also opened. Its very first art show featured amazing works by the artist H. R. Giger.
A Hub for Music and Art
Lit Lounge quickly became a major hangout for young people interested in new music and art. It was a key spot for the indie rock and electroclash music styles of that time. Lit was one of the first places in New York to welcome European DJs who mixed different songs together, like Soulwax and Erol Alkan. It also featured post-hardcore artists, such as Sergio Vega from the band Quicksand.
Changes and Challenges
After another popular spot called The Beatrice Inn became a music venue in 2006, Lit Lounge became a bit less busy. However, when The Beatrice Inn closed in 2009, Lit Lounge became popular again.
In 2010, some local people had concerns about the noise from the venue. They said music was often played very late on weekends. In response, Lit Lounge promised to hire more security and add special soundproofing to help with the noise.
The End of an Era
Fuse Gallery, the art space inside Lit Lounge, closed on August 6, 2013. The owners said it was due to money problems. Then, on July 8, 2015, Erik Foss and David Schwartz announced that Lit Lounge would also close soon. They explained that rising rent costs and changes in the East Village's social scene were the main reasons. Many of Lit Lounge's visitors had started going to areas in Brooklyn like Bushwick, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg. Lit Lounge officially closed its doors on July 30, 2015.
A New Chapter: Tilt
Foss and Schwartz later planned to open a new version of Lit Lounge in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. This new place was located where their restaurant, Currant Cafe, used to be. In December 2016, the venue opened as a new music spot called Tilt. However, Tilt also closed in February 2019.
