Turf Club closes while management changes

According to a press release sent out this afternoon, the Turf Club in Saint Paul has shut its doors, for now.

Rumors began flying on Twitter when the club canceled its Marijuana Deathsquad performance Saturday night, and instead locked the doors and put out a sign saying "closed for repairs."

According to Andrea Swenson at City Pages, manager and long-time Turf Club employee Dave Wiegardt was let go Saturday night and the locks were changed. Owner Tim Scanlon has handed the management duties to Joshua Janmes.

This afternoon, Joshua James sent out a brief and vaguely worded release stating "the Turf Club has survived natural disasters such as fire and disco. Now it is faced with a new natural disaster: Closing. But . . . Much like the Phoenix, the Turf Club will rise again."

He went to say "with a projected reopen date of January 11th, under new management, with renewed vigor, the Turf Club will bring its accustomed rock-and-roll swagger back to Saint Paul's Midway. New hours of operation and a new direction will be the hallmarks of the re-working of the venerable jewel of the midway. Focus on local music will remain the cornerstone of the business."

More details as we get them.

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