It’s one of Southwest Florida’s few homes for live, original rock and metal bands. But after struggling for three years, the owner of Ollie’s Pub is pulling the plug.
The Cape Coral venue will shut its doors at the end of April, owner Sean Dunnigan announced Tuesday on Facebook.
Dunnigan blamed the venue’s failure largely on the pandemic and Hurricane Ian.
“It’s still a struggle,” Dunnigan wrote on Facebook. “I can barely pay bills. I have sacrificed more than I can share in this post. All in pursuit of a dream.
“And when it’s right, a full house, an amazing live show, an iconic moment, there aren’t more than a handful of experiences I’d put in front of it. But the truth, the ugly parts most don’t see: The days no one shows up, the shows that fall apart. It hits the ego, and often the bottom line.”
The move comes just eight months after Ollie’s fans rallied and raised $3,500 in one day to help Dunnigan pay that month’s rent and other expenses. They eventually raised more than $9,900.
Dunnigan credited those people, his family and and his landlord for helping Ollie’s survive this long.