The Windup Space is closing

After 11 years, the popular Station North venue The Windup Space is closing. In this photo, the Baltimore band $100 Girlfriend performs there.

The Windup Space, a home for drinks, live music, art exhibits and an anchor of the burgeoning Station North Arts and Entertainment District, will close June 1, the venue announced late Monday on Facebook.

“We’ve had the pleasure of sharing our love for the strange and beautiful things that Baltimore has to offer with our own special blend of programming,” the statement said. “We hope you found the things you were looking for and discovered some new things that you will never forget. We will always remember the love you have shown us and hope you will stop by to say hello and celebrate some of the memories that we’ve made together.”

The announcement comes just over 11 years after Russell de Ocampo left his job at Joe Squared to open the Windup Space at the corner of Charles Street and North Avenue.

At roughly 3,000 square feet, it was similar in size and mission to the (then) new Metro Gallery. At the time, venues which hosted art exhibits, film screenings, live music and also had full bars were new to the scene. Since then, they’ve come to define Station North.

“I can’t really imagine Station North without him,” Sarah Werner, the Metro Gallery’s owner, wrote on Facebook. “Every bit of the Windup Space was an outpouring of his love for the artists and people of Baltimore. I’ll miss that place dearly and will hold on to those memories fondly.”

In the past 11 years, the Windup Space has been a platform for Baltimore bands as well as rising national acts, a home for the Baltimore Boom Bap Society and 4 Hours of Funk, the instrumental NoVo Festival, the Mondo Baltimore film screening series, Dr. Sketchy’s Burlesque drawing nights and much more.