Resurrected Music Mill shuts down again-WEB ONLY

Two months after reopening under new owners, the Music Mill restaurant, bar and concert venue has closed its doors again.

Formerly a Discovery Zone children’s amusement center, the 700-person venue at Clearwater Crossing in Indianapolis is owned by locally based The Broadbent Co., which posted a “no trespassing” sign on the Music Mill’s locked doors late last week.

Broker John Beouy said yesterday that new Music Mill owner Jeremy “Hoss” Tevebaugh has defaulted on the rental agreement – just a week after the commercial real estate firm announced that the lease had been signed.

Neither Tevebaugh nor former majority owner Nick Davidson returned phone calls from IBJ about the abrupt closing or the status of Tevebaugh’s contract to buy the business.

The Music Mill opened in 2005, providing a mid-sized venue for local and national talent. Davidson and business partners Ron Schiffli and Jack Shockman closed the business in late February, saying the sour economy had taken a toll.

Tevebaugh signed a contract to buy the Music Mill in April and reopened the venue April 17.

Broadbent changed the locks last week.

Earlier this month, Tevebaugh told IBJ that he wanted to transform the venue into a dance-oriented nightclub with DJs and dance nights. Under the previous ownership, it had featured live acts of regional and national stature.

Just a week ago, Tevebaugh signed a contract with Indianapolis-based Mundo Beat Entertainment LLC to host a Latin Rumba night every Friday from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.

The first event occurred without incident June 9, but Mundo Beat was informed the day before the scheduled June 19 show that the venue would be closed, said talent coordinator Margie Estaeban-Gonzalvez. At the time, Tevebaugh said he has hoped to reopen the venue this week.

Estaeban-Gonzalvez said the group is now searching for a new venue after hiring dancers for the event.

“I am in a blur right now. It was a waste of money and goodwill, both,” she said.

The Music Mill’s Web site is still operational, listing three upcoming shows – in addition to the ill-fated Rumba nights. All of the live music was scheduled for the Whammy Bar, the 21-and-over restaurant and bar adjacent to the music venue. The listed events offered free admission.

Steve Gerardi, who managed events and bookings for Tevebaugh, said the venue was trying to provide more entertainment options than it did under the previous owners, by scheduling comedy shows, for example.

Local musician Cliff Snyder, who also books talent for local venues, said Indianapolis is a challenging environment for places like the Music Mill.

“It was very unfortunate, but the reopening was not very well-planned,” he said.

In fact, it appeared the new owner hadn’t completely taken over the business yet. As recently as mid-June, the Music Mill’s liquor license was still held by Davidson and his partners, according to the state Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.

Davidson, however, denied being involved with the venue anymore. “We have sold Music Mill to the new owner on contract and the transfer is in process,” he said.

Beouy, the Broadbent broker, said the company is looking for another tenant for the Music Mill space.