Popular Pittsburgh club Brillobox closes doors for good

Brillobox, a popular Pittsburgh club offering live music, food and dance parties, is closing its doors.

Owners Lou Ickes and Janessa Walter announced the closure via a Facebook post.

“We are wrapping it up. We appreciate everyone that has been a part of Brillo, over the years. It’s been a great ride, but it’s time to move on. We love you all,” states the post.

In addition to live music and DJs, the Bloomfield neighborhood venue was known for its drinks and a food menu heavy on vegetarian and vegan options. The interior featured retro-style red leather booths and a screen playing old movies.

The bar also hosted a now-ironically named dance party called “Pandemic.”

The owners of Brillobox, known for its vegan and vegetarian menu, announced the doors are closed for good after a 15-year run in Bloomfield. https://t.co/HG3zDAGNJT pic.twitter.com/7VA6vtGwT6

— WPXI (@WPXI) August 3, 2020

“Brillobox was always the cool alternative spot. They brought in countless diverse acts who needed a place to play,” says Zack Keim, front man for the Pittsburgh-based Nox Boys.

“When the Nox Boys first started playing, we could never play there because we were all still in high school. Eventually when we turned of age, they gave us the opportunity to play there. I recall opening up for Pittsburgh-based band Donora.

“The venue itself was a scene of its own,” Keim adds. “Some of the best indie shows I’ve ever seen were there … Twin Peaks, Warm Drag/Hidden Twin, Meeting Of Important People, 1,2,3.”

Announcement of the closing comes amid business closures related to the covid-19 pandemic and resulting restrictions on bar service, indoor dining and crowd sizes.

Brillobox opened up for takeout at the end of June but closed again on July 24.

On Facebook, Ickes and Walter, who have owned Brillobox since, 2016, said, “It’s been a great ride, but it’s time to move on.”