On Thursday night, it was announced that two long-time staples of Victoria’s music scene, Hermann’s Jazz Club and View Street Social, will be closing their doors for good.
Both clubs are run by the Arts On View Society’s board of directors, which will also be dissolved on April 30th, along with Hermann’s Jazz Club and View Street Social.
“This was not a decision we arrived at lightly,” wrote the board of directors.
“Over the past 18 months, we have worked hard to stabilize the organization, improve operations, and explore every reasonable path forward. While we made meaningful progress, the financial challenges we inherited from previous leadership proved too significant to overcome in a sustainable way.”
The board acknowledged that both clubs meant a lot to Victoria in their own ways, bringing music and connection to patrons’ lives.
They also noted that the community built at the venue is what made them special.
“What we are most proud of is the community that formed around this space,” the board continued.
“The artists who performed here, the staff who gave their energy and care, and the audiences who showed up night after night. You are what made these experiences special.”
Over the coming weeks, both Hermann’s Jazz Club and View Street Social will be ongoing structured wind-down of operations.
Arts On View Society says that ultimately they are grateful for all the support over the years.
“Whether you attended a show, performed on our stage, volunteered your time, or simply helped spread the word, you played a part in what Arts On View, Hermann’s Jazz Club, and View Street Social became,” they said.
“This is not the ending anyone hoped for, but we are deeply grateful for everything that was created together and the memories we all share.”
Hermann’s Jazz Club was initially opened at a different location in 1981 by former owner Hermann Nieweler. It then moved to its iconic View Street location in 1986 when Nieweler bought the building.
In 2024, the City of Victoria purchased the building from the Nieweler family for $3.95 million to help preserve the local arts scene.
The Coda took over the Hermann’s Upstairs and officially opened in February 2025 under the leadership of Al Smith and Christina Morrison. Smith is also chair on the Arts On View Society board and its acting executive director.
Despite having ties to both The Coda and Arts On View Society, Smith says that The Coda will be unaffected by the closure announcement of the other two spaces in the building.
Victoria Councillor Matt Dell, who is often a champion of the arts on council, says that no matter what, the two spaces will remain dedicated to the arts.
“While this is disappointing news, this space will remain a city-owned space for music,” Dell wrote on social media.
“The city will be looking for new operators to keep the space and music alive. Live music is not leaving!”
Dell thanked the Arts On View Society for all their dedicated work to keep music alive in Victoria and noted that City staff would soon begin looking for operators to fill their shoes, just as they did with The Coda.
💬 Join the conversation
No comments yet — be the first to start the conversation
