After more than 34 years in business, Gabby鈥檚 Country Cabaret has succumbed to the mounting financial pressures of the coronavirus pandemic.
Owner Steve Gallagher, took to social media on Tuesday, May 26, to announce the permanent closure of the bar and live entertainment venue in its current location on Fraser Highway.
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A silver lining packed within that time are the memories of countless country artists who got their start performing live at the nightclub, including Dallas Smith, Chad Brownlee, Washboard Union, and Aaron Pritchett 鈥� to name a few.
Mitch Merrett, a Langley producer, songwriter, and performer said he literally got his very first start there.
鈥淏ack a few, well, quite a few years ago, every Wednesday was jam night and I was a regular there,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淚 started performing there when Aaron Pritchett was looking for a new guitar player. And we spent a good number of years as one of the regular bands.鈥�
Merrett said he met many good friends and colleagues because of 鈥渢hat Honky Tonk.鈥�
鈥淪o many great memories in that bar鈥� and a few foggy ones鈥︹�� Merrett laughed.
Former Clayton Heights resident and country artist JoJo Mason thanked the nightclub for the array of memories.
鈥淭o see this legendary B.C. country music staple having to close due to the hands of this virus is absolutely heartbreaking,鈥� Mason told the Langley Advance Times. 鈥淚鈥檝e had the opportunity to play this stage, to be a judge for competitions, to party my face off, and even once to sing karaoke. I know our country fans will rally and follow where ever they land.鈥�
Shawn Meehan, of the country-rock band Me and Mae, shared with the Langley Advance Times that this is certainly a sad day for the Langley country music community.
鈥淕abby鈥檚 was a breeding ground for up-and-coming talent. Me and Mae spent a lot of time there learning and growing,鈥� Meehan said.
Award-winning Langley musician Karen Lee Batten recalled that she had the opportunity to both DJ and perform at Gabby鈥檚 for more than 15 years.
鈥淓veryone knows Gabby鈥檚, even if country music isn鈥檛 your favourite, and you said 鈥業 will never go there,鈥� you have and you did! It was a great party, and had amazing staff,鈥� she recounted.
Gabby鈥檚 was one of the last standing country-themed nightclubs in the the Lower Mainland that regularly featured live artists perform.
David Wills, the current president of the BC Country Music Association (BCCMA), called the lose of Gabby鈥檚 a major hit to the B.C. country music and overall live music community.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be hard to see people not doing what they do. Generations of people knew Gabby鈥檚 鈥� it鈥檚 going to create a big hole in Langley,鈥� he said, referring to the bar as a community partner.
Wills noted the building itself provided a timeless kitch atmosphere that appealed to television and film productions seeking to capture a long gone feel.
鈥淚f B.C. residents don鈥檛 have a place to go dancing and to go out, there is going to be a longer term effect on their mental health,鈥� Wills expressed, hoping for something to fill not only the country music void, but live entertainment as a whole in the near future.
Linda Corscadden, former president of BCCMA for 16 years, said Gabby鈥檚 was like the bar from Cheers.
鈥淎t any given time I could walk into that bar and be greeted by everybody I knew,鈥� she said.
鈥淚鈥檝e been going to Gabby鈥檚 for 35 years, since Ron Barkwell opened it up after Peppers closed down. Never had to wait in a lineup, I鈥檇 walk in and take my perch in Cowboy Corner,鈥� Corscadden continued. 鈥淚t鈥檚 where I learned to dance and it鈥檚 where I met my ex-husband.鈥�
Langley resident Kim Loof shared that she had met her husband at Gabby鈥檚 in April 1994, and married him inside the actual bar in 1999 鈥� a ceremony she claims will now remain as the only wedding to take place in its confines.
鈥淲e planned it in two weeks and there was about 75 people there. My husband worked in the back filling beer and I was up front as a door girl,鈥� she added. 鈥淚鈥檓 going to miss all my friends and family.鈥�
Regulars and friends of Gallagher have expressed their appreciation for the owner and the hope that the beloved country cabaret will take on another form.
鈥淪teve Gallagher and I are still very good friends, and I know how much he loved Gabby鈥檚, live music, and everyone who came through the doors,鈥� Merrett said. 鈥淚f I know Steve, I wouldn鈥檛 doubt there maybe a new Gabby鈥檚 open up down the road. I sure hope so. Gabby鈥檚 was a staple in the community and was a great place to hang and listen to live music.鈥�
鈥滳heers to Gabby鈥檚,鈥� Lee Batten added. 鈥淐heers to all the staff over the years, cheers to all the wicked bands that have played that stage and the techs that made the music heard. To everyone who poured a drink, [and] most importantly to everyone who drank them, cheers!鈥�
鈥淪o many great memories鈥y heart is broken鈥︹�� Corscadden added, 鈥渂ut I look forward to hopefully kicking up some dust on a new dance floor if Steve opens up another Gabby鈥檚. Long Live Gabby鈥檚 crew and family.鈥�
The OK Corral Cabaret in 琉璃神社 has been in the city for more than 35 years, and while has not reopened due to COVID-19, it is not expected to permanently close.
Managing partner of the OK Corral Angie Clowry said she and the Corral staff were saddened to hear of the closing of Gabby鈥檚 Country Cabaret.
鈥淚t was a warm atmosphere with very similar appeal to our cabaret - filled with down to earth people that enjoyed dancing, fantastic music, cold ones and each other鈥檚 company,鈥� she said.
As for the OK Corral she said said the bar needs immediate help finding ways to partially open with health and safety at the forefront or they will be forced into bankruptcy.
Clowry stated, the bar would adhere to social distancing, cleaning and safety protocols if it reopened.
鈥淲e would love to open up, hire back staff, support local musicians and entertainers by hosting them in our parking lot with a food truck set up to provide food similar to pubs and restaurants,鈥� said Clowry.
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
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