⁠Is Mayan Theater closing permanently? What we know as popular Los Angeles venue shares statement

The legendary Mayan Theater has announced it will permanently close down this September.

Once a popular Los Angeles nightspot, the venue has almost a century's worth of history. However, in a statement shared on its social media account, the Mayan's team has revealed they are shutting down:

“It is with heavy yet grateful hearts that we announce The Mayan will be closing its doors at the end of September, after 35 unforgettable years," the statement reads. “To our loyal patrons, community and friends: thank you for your unwavering support, your trust and the countless memories we’ve created together,” it continued. “You made every night truly special.”

The statement concluded by inviting patrons to the venue on Saturday nights until September 13, noting that the dance floor will be open.

“Join us … for one last celebration of everything the Mayan has meant to us all.”

The legacy of Mayan Theater explored:

As reported by Billboard, the owner of The Mayan Theater, manager-cum-president Sammy Chao, said in a statement to Los Angeles Times that the aftermath of COVID has contributed to the decision. He also thanked the Mayan's loyal fanbase for their support:

“[T]he past five years have delivered an unrelenting barrage of adversity: the ongoing fallout of the pandemic, rising operational costs and staggering inflation, industry-wide strikes, dramatically shifting consumer habits, catastrophic fires, political unrest, and public policies at the city, state, and federal levels that have increasingly burdened small businesses and the workers who keep this city alive,” Chao said. “We’ve done everything possible to stay afloat, adapt and serve, but the path forward has been eroded beyond recognition. We have given this business everything we have — and more — and come this far, so the decision to close is not so much one of defeat, but of necessity and truth.”

As of this writing, it remains unclear if the historic go-to venue will be in use for any other activity once the theater shuts down. The theater is located at 1038 S. Hill St. and it first opened its doors on August 15, 1927, with George Gershwin’s Broadway musical performance of Oh, Kay!

The Mayan Theater is one of the most iconic reiterations of the Mayan Revival architectural movement that became widespread across the nation in the 1920s and 1930s. The theater was designed by Morgan, Walls & Clements, which is the same architectural firm that can be credited with designing the El Capitan and Wiltern theaters in Los Angeles.

Back then, the Mayan Theater stood out for musical comedies. In the decades that followed, the iconic structure saw several shifts in ownership and function. As reported by Los Angeles magazine, at one point during the Great Depression it served as an actor’s workshop under the Works Progress Administration. The theater later became a hub for the Latino community as it began hosting Spanish performances.

By 1989, the city of Los Angeles had dubbed the Mayan Theater a Historic-Cultural Monument. The following year, the theater was taken over by its current owners and it became a nightlife hot spot in the city. Over the years, it has played host to artists like Muse, Panic! At The Disco, and Daft Punk.

As reported by LAist, guitarist Jack White's manager, Lalo Medina, mourned the announcement and said:

“When I've seen him play in that room, he transforms even beyond what he normally does because he feels sort of possessed in that room, maybe it's the sight lines, maybe it's the sound,” said Lalo Medina.

Given the Mayan Theater's designation as a Los Angeles Cultural Monument, it is ensured preservation, though it is not exempted from demolition.

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