Jimmy's Music Club Returning
Jimmy's Music Club, which once sat on Willow Street and was the headquarters to New Orleans punk scene in the 1980s, will make its return to the newly renovated space by the end of summer 2025.
The new owners of 8200 Willow St. have big plans to revive the space and bring back the magic that used to occupy this street corner by bringing in national acts and simultaneously catering to the local music crowd and nearby college crowd.
The Building's History
Legendary acts including the Neville Brothers, Kid Rock, Tommy Tutone, the Meters, and more graced the stage that still occupies the building in its prime. Most recently, the space has been occupied by the high school friendly bar, The Willow, where the stage has been left without live performances.
Christopher Jones, the new majority owner of the space, worked the door of the Frat House, a college bar that took over the space following the original Jimmy's Music Club was closed. Since the Frat House closed in the summer of 2012, the building has been operating as the recently closed Willow bar.
The Building's Renovations
The bathrooms are in the process of receiving a makeover for the first time in over 20 years, and a new paint job will cover the pink/orange eyesore that sits on the corner. With new signage, lighting, and decor, as well as an upgraded patio, the space is set to host a full schedule of performances by August.
Jimmy Anselmo, the founder and longtime owner of the original club, has given the new ownership group his blessing to revive the club along with a handful of vintage Jimmy's Music Club posters. Jones intends to frame and hang these posters along the walls of the venue, memorializing the spaces history and legacy.
The new ownership group includes Christopher Jones, Joseph Palermo, Nolan Gisclair, and Matthew Limberg who also acquired another parcel on the same plot. Previously, this parcel was used as storage and a space for bands to be. Jones plans to lease the space as a restaurant or coffee shop, bringing another level of excitement to this recent announcement.
Making History at Jimmy's Music Club
Jimmy Anselmo is confident in Chris Jones and the rest of the ownership group will bring the sounds of soul and the spirit of Jimmy's Music Club back to Willow Street. Check out this iconic space when it soft opens in July or once their full schedule is cranking by August 2025 for classic New Orleans sounds and a modern gathering space.
