One of our favorite local places to hear live music, the Barking Spider has just announced that it will close its doors for good after a 30-year anniversary party on Sunday, September 18. (That party starts at 2 p.m. and you should definitely go.)
Owner Bruce Madorsky and proprietor Jenna Juredine have decided that the 30th anniversary milestone provides an opportunity to celebrate the life of a music venue known for giving many musicians their debuts. Their father, the late Martin Juredine, opened club on September 19, 1986, in an old carriage house on the campus of Case Western Reserve University. He ditched the jukebox and began having local musicians play a couple of times a week. He booked a bit of everything: Poetry readings, potlucks, weddings and receptions.
His youngest daughter Jenna has kept the club open in the wake of his death.
“I couldn’t let the Spider go,” she says in a press release announcing the 30th anniversary celebration and closure. “I grew up in these walls, with these musicians, customers and co-workers. I had just lost my dad and it was a thread, keeping the connection to my father for all of us.”
Newly married with a baby due in November, she wants to devote more time to her family.
“The tavern takes a certain lifestyle to maintain, and I am no longer able to dedicate the amount of time needed to keep it going,” she says. “We have an amazing group of employees that have worked here for years, some since the very beginning. My father created a safe house for music lovers and musicians and everyone has been so supportive. We are a huge family and that is hard to come by in any business. It’s been an honor to be a part of such an important part of the music scene in Cleveland.”
This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2016.
Thank you Barking Spider!!
Martin was the greatest advocate, for musicians, artists and students.
Thanks Jenna for the extra fun…
You will be missed and remembered. Laura
Why is no one taking over the venue? Can’t the Spider be sold or leased to a willing person or joint venture?
She’ll be single again soon enough.
I was there tonight and a few people said they are not selling because they are trying to sell it to Case for big bucks. If Case doesn’t buy it the. Starbucks is next on the list. They would buy the location within 90 days and then it will be a stupid coffee shop.
@Rr, Case owns the building and the Spider leases it from them. Sadly, I expect a parking lot in that space within the next couple years.
This is a very sad day for Cleveland. The Spider is a great and very unique bar and live music venue. There is no other bar like it in Cleveland or anywhere else that I’ve travelled to. Martin was a fantastic person and has been missed, but Jenna has been doing a fantastic job. I have listened to great music and discussed everything from science to religion to politics with complete strangers there. I stopped in tonight and it was a bit sombre, but everyone was reminiscing about all their great memories. I will be back Sunday for one last time and will have a deep void inside me with the loss of this institution. The Spider had a fantastic 30 year run and Cleveland should very thankful.