Owner of Mezzanine files for bankruptcy
South of Market nightclub Mezzanine’s owner filed for bankruptcy protection as it seeks to stay open amid an lease dispute.
Nightgallerie LLC, owner of Mezzanine, said the Chapter 11 filing will help the company hold all of its fall and holiday events and parties, resolve its debt, and pay employees and vendors.
The 16yearold, 1,000personcapacity nightclub has been in negotiations to extend its lease at 444 Jessie St. to January.
But Mezzanine’s landlord declined to continue the lease, and its lease was set to expire Thursday. The status of lease negotiations is unclear.
Brothers Dave, Todd and Scott Chritton own 444 Jessie St. None of them was immediately available to comment, said a representative at their company, Microbiz Security.
Deborah Jackman, owner of the club, said in a statement that Mezzanine “will do whatever it takes to preserve a heartbeat of San Francisco nightlife during a time when smaller to mediumsized, independently owned event venues are being forced out.”
“Our hope is that through Chapter 11 we can preserve Mezzanine’s operations and position the company to provide great live music events in the heart of the city for years to come,” she said in the statement.
The Board of Supervisors voted in July to restrict the conversion of nighttime entertainment space into other uses in SoMa.
Office rents have spiked in the area to more than $80 per square foot annually, making it more attractive for landlords to convert their buildings.