Brick by Brick closing: the announcement
Co-owners Jordan Mancino, the former As I Lay Dying drummer, and Shannon Joy Wiles announced the closure on Aug. 5 in a post titled “Bye Bye Buenos.” The Mosh published it in full:After 12 incredible years, our chapter on Buenos Ave is coming to an end… We’d love to celebrate with all of you one last time. See you soon.” — Jordan Mancino and Shannon Joy Wiles, Aug. 5Signs had been building. Helsótt singer Eric Dow told the San Diego Reader he’d seen 10-day gaps with nothing booked, and SanDiegoVille noted the online calendar simply stopped in mid-August. One employee told Times of San Diego there had been “talk of moving but nothing was certain.”
Why did Brick by Brick close?
No official reason has been given. Mancino and Wiles did not respond to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Times of San Diego or 10News. Here’s what has been reported about the Brick by Brick closing, from most to least solid:- The lease (secondhand): Dow told the Reader that one of the owners called him with the news, and that “they had been flying month-to-month on their lease, which is no way for a venue to operate when you have to book shows months in advance.”
- A “leasing dispute” headline: 10News’s Aug. 13 headline cites a “leasing dispute,” but the story gives no details or source.
- Sale or condos (unconfirmed): SanDiegoVille was told the building “may have been sold and could eventually be redeveloped with condominiums or other housing,” but couldn’t confirm it. The UT found no permit applications filed for the property.
The final nights on Buenos Ave
The Cybertronic Spree played the second-to-last show on Aug. 12. The final show on Aug. 13 sold out, with The Undertaking, Blackcast, Helsótt, Cascade Effect and an all-star jam. Dow told the Reader the owners gave Helsótt “the opportunity to be the last band to play there.”What’s next for Brick by Brick
“See you soon” left the door open, and a source told SanDiegoVille the club “could potentially reopen elsewhere.” Shows billed as “Brick by Brick presents” continued after the closure at Music Box (Elder, Sept. 17) and Soda Bar (Allison, Sept. 23). But as of Oct. 7, brickbybrick.com lists no upcoming events, and no new space has been announced. We’ll update the Brick by Brick closing story if that changes.Three decades on Buenos Ave
The building housed the Spirit from 1975 or 1976 (sources differ). The Reader has dated the rename to Brick by Brick to both 1993 and 1994, while the UT and the venue say 1995. Max Paul ran it until 2014, when a liquor license suspension over unpaid sales tax shut it down. Mancino, Nick Hipa and Phil Sgrosso reopened it on July 24, 2014. Capacity is reported as 400 by the UT, the Reader and SanDiegoVille, and as 300 by 10News.What the Brick by Brick closing means for San Diego metal
Former talent buyer Sulo King told the UT: “It’s a huge loss, not just for the metal community, but for San Diego… Brick by Brick is iconic.” Casbah co-owner Tim Mays called it “a much-needed place in San Diego’s music scene,” and Dow told 10News there’s no comparable mid-size room in town.“The truth is, I’m not sad at all… We gave San Diego’s rock and heavy metal community a true home and over three decades of unforgettable memories.” — Max Paul, former owner, to the San Diego Union-TribuneIt’s a tough stretch for small rooms. Winston’s in Ocean Beach closed in September with plans to reopen under a new name, Times of San Diego reported. Follow our San Diego metal news for updates on the Brick by Brick closing. Thanks for 12 years on Buenos. Horns up, Brick.
Brick by Brick closing FAQ
When did Brick by Brick close?
The closing was announced Aug. 5, 2026, and the final show was the sold-out “Bye Bye Buenos” on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, at 1130 Buenos Ave.
Why did Brick by Brick close?
The owners haven’t given a reason. Helsótt’s Eric Dow told the San Diego Reader they had been flying month-to-month on their lease. A 10News headline cited a “leasing dispute” without details, and sale or condo talk is unconfirmed.
Is Brick by Brick reopening somewhere else?
Nothing has been announced as of Oct. 7, 2026. “Brick by Brick presents” shows continued at Music Box and Soda Bar in September, but brickbybrick.com lists no upcoming events.
