Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Works To Save East Bay Venue

FIREAID Benefit Concert For California Fire Relief Kia Forum — INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 30: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been converted to black and white.) Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs onstage during the FIREAID Benefit Concert for California Fire Relief at The Kia Forum on January 30, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for FIREAID)

Eli’s Mile High Club located in West Oakland, California, is once again under threat of closure, and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is working to help save the venue. The space has existed in the city since 1974, and has exchanged ownership numerous times with several risks of closure. The venue, currently owned by Matthew Patane for the last nine years, has been facing struggles since the closure of its patio space in November due to zoning laws.

Armstrong raised awareness of the venue’s struggles via Instagram, when he shared a screenshot of the GoFundMe campaign created by Patane and mentioned he’d just donated. So far, the venue has raised $38,796 of its $150K goal.

“After months of negotiating with the city, code enforcement officers red-tagged Eli’s Mile High Club’s patio in November 2024,” the GoFundMe reads. “This came as a surprise since fire marshals nad health department officials had previously inspected and had no issue with the space. Our patio generated a huge source of income and has impacted the many ways we serve our community. This includes hosting benefits for non-profit organizations, market events featuring local artists and businesses, spotlighting local chefs an future brick-and-mortar restaurants, local festivals and private events to name a few. At this time, Eli’s is in danger of closing its doors. We are reaching out to our beloved community for help with supporting this historic venue through recently imposed city restrictions and zoning issues on its ability to ‘Make Fun Easy’ and reopen the Eli’s patio.”

Due to the impact of the zoning process, the venue has downsized employment and reduced its hours as it reallocated income to help fix the issue.

Green Day has done surprise sets at Eli’s Mile High Club in the past, performing under the name Foxboro Hot Tubs back in 2013.

Armstrong has long been an advocate for local businesses in the East Bay, and he and his fellow Green Day bandmates have also long supported 924 Gilman, located in Berkeley, California.

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