Crowbar revives Brisbane’s iconic The Zoo venue

Legendary Fortitude Valley venue The Zoo has been saved after shutting down in July, with plans to have it reopened in just over a month.

Nathan Trad and Tyla Dombroski, the co-founders of Crowbar. Photo: The Crowbar.

Brisbane’s iconic music venue The Zoo is set to reopen after closing its doors in July due to financial struggles.

On Tuesday, alternative music venue Crowbar announced it would take over the Fortitude Valley institution, with plans to reopen by late November.

Crowbar, co-founded by Trad Nathan and Tyla Dombroski in 2012, is no stranger to Brisbane’s music community.

Since its inception, the brand has built a loyal following, championing alternative, punk, and heavy music, first in Brisbane and later expanding to Sydney.

Crowbar closed its original Brisbane venue in 2020 due to the financial pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, with the chance to revive The Zoo, the team is eager to breathe new life into the beloved space.

“The Zoo has been an institution in Brisbane for over three decades, Crowbar intends to honour the amazing path laid before us and continue offering great events for years to come,” Mr Nathan said.

Trad Nathan and Tyla Dombroski. Photo: The Crowbar.

The Zoo, famous for hosting performances by acts such as The Pixies, Silverchair, and Nick Cave, had faced significant financial struggles in recent years.

Despite achieving record ticket sales in 2023, rising operational costs and a decline in alcohol sales forced the venue to close after running at a loss for three consecutive years.

In a statement released by The Zoo’s team in May acknowledged the harsh reality of the struggling venue.

“The hard truth is we’ve been running at a loss for over three years. Despite exploring every possible option, we couldn’t secure the support needed to overcome the ongoing financial strain,” the statement read.

Ms Dombroski expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with The Zoo’s landlords to keep the venue alive.

“We are so grateful to have the opportunity to work with the landlords, the Apostolos family, in maintaining the property as a live music venue,” she said.

“Our focus is to continue providing a great space for artists and music lovers, while working with industry and government to ensure the survival of grassroots venues across Australia.”

Brisbane live music venue The Zoo will reopen after being taken over by Crowbar.

Crowbar’s takeover of The Zoo will include a rebrand under the creative direction of Melbourne artist Callum Preston and the addition of an American-inspired eatery, Ultimate Pig.

The menu will feature smashed burgers, barbecue, fried chicken, and vegan options.

To celebrate the reopening, Crowbar is planning a series of special events, showcasing local and international talent.

The announcement has already generated excitement among fans, with one Instagram user commenting, “Everything is right in the world with Crowbar in Brisbane. Home has reopened,” while another wrote, “Well it’s about f**king time the legend came back to Brisbane! Best news!!!”