Troubled Somerville Venue To Close For Changes

SOMERVILLE, MA – A Somerville event space and lounge will close temporarily this year amid recent troubles. ONCE on Highland Avenue announced Friday it will close for changes July 31 and hopefully reopen sometime in the fall.

"Over the next few months you will see changes at ONCE," a statement on the venue's Facebook page reads. "Our mission will remain the same as will our focus to foster and support local artists and their art, to bring cool events to the neighborhood, and maintain our deep ties to the community by being a gathering space. But we must transition and hone to keep the business viable."

The 9,000-square-foot space on Highland Avenue is owned and operated by catering company Cuisine en Locale. It has an upstairs lounge that is used for small shows and parties and a 300-person ballroom downstairs that is available for larger events and performances.

The venue's closing comes after a recent rough patch, according to Boston Restaurant Talk. It fell victim to a break-in in May and has also struggled with high operating costs, leading owner JJ Gonson to seek help from the city and the area music scene.

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