Industry Noize: Knitting Factory’s Federal Bar

Knitting Factory is banking on Long Beach, Calif., with a recently opened space inside an old bank vault.

Federal Bar includes a restaurant and a 300-capacity all-ages venue inside a repurposed 1920s-era bank.

The venue still includes original ornate decoration from that period, plus a bar area inside a vault previously filled with safety deposit boxes.

The Federal Bar in Long Beach, Calif., is open for business. The Knitting Factory’s newest all-ages venue is a converted bank, with the vault now a bar.

This is the second Federal Bar the company has opened in the region – the first, located in North Hollywood, is also inside an old bank – and Knitting Factory Chief Talent Buyer Mark Dinerstein explained neither of the venues will be booked up every day by concerts.

“We have a high demand for private events and rentals, so while Knitting Factory Entertainment competes rnationally for concerts, it’s not intended to be a full concert venue all the time, all throughout the month,” he told Pollstar.

He added the venues offer a look and style unmatched by other spaces in the city, plus reasonably priced restaurants.

While Knitting Factory is actively booking the Long Beach Federal Bar, the Hollywood space will feature more DJ and dance club nights.

Plans are in the works to feature five to eight national touring bands per month, as well as regional and local bands.

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