updated: safari sam’s closes after brief stint on main street
Well, that didn’t last too long.
Safari Sam’s, the all-ages, small concert and performance operator that relocated to Downtown from Hollywood in mid-October, is out of business. According to owner Sam Lanni, the Gilmore Development-leased venue didn’t hold proper entertainment permits.
An altercation that was quickly broken up by police during a holiday concert may have contributed to the quick eviction, however, but details remain scarce.
In any event, Safari Sam’s may receive local government relocation assistance to find another venue in Downtown if funding becomes available.
Photograph via Ed Fuentes / viewfromaloft.
UPDATE: Gilmore Development responds. Emphasis mine.
Safari Sam’s was not ‘Evicted’, they had a license to operate on a predetermined number of days for three months. We chose not to book any additional events for business reasons. The business decision had nothing to do with anything other than to move forward with a different operating model. The Venue does have all its appropriate licenses. Business is fine, the world is not coming to an end. ‘Little Radio’ is having an Artwalk event at the Regent tonight. The Regent will be having events regularly throughout the year prior to its reconstruction planned for the fall.
No word on whether a new tenant has been lined up yet. Too bad I didn’t get a chance to use that free concert offer available to locals.
Are there any other similar-sized venues in Downtown looking for an events operator? Let us know.
31 comments
so much bad news about downtown lately…is this the end of the downtown revitalization?
RIP DOWNTOWN GENTRIFICATION : 2000-2008
The reports of Downtown’s death are greatly exaggerated.
Shit!
LA better find a new DT location for them… we need more live music in DTLA. I can only go to the Redwood so many times before developing a deep-rooted hatred for pirates.
I suspect what we’re going to see downtown is what happened in the East Village in NYC. Gentrification in the late 80′s-early 90′s that hit a wall due to a real estate crash, about 10 years of close to no growth and then a sudden explosion of development. So not the end of the revitalization, but be prepared for a long stall.
^4
The difference being that East Village was/is only a small portion of a bustling urban metropolis, whereas DTLA makes up 100% of the area’s desperately-trying-to-bustle urban metropolis. In other words, the options are much more limited here. So let’s hope the “stall,” if there is one, is a lot shorter than 10 years.
I’ve always said it’s wrong to compare Downtown LA (one neighborhood or a collection of smaller ones) with Manhattan (an entire borough). “Our Manhattan” stretches from Boyle Heights west to the Pacific. East Village::Koreatown, UES::Rancho Park, etc etc.
For the record:
Safari Sam’s was not ‘Evicted’, they had a license to operate on a predetermined number of days for three months. We chose not to book any additional events for business reasons. The business decision had nothing to do with anything other than to move forward with a different operating model. The Venue does have all its appropriate licenses. Business is fine, the world is not coming to an end. ‘Little Radio’ is having an Artwalk event at the Regent tonight. The Regent will be having events regularly throughout the year prior to its reconstruction planned for the fall.
Feel free to contact me with any further questions.
I’ve always said it’s wrong to compare Downtown LA (one neighborhood or a collection of smaller ones) with Manhattan (an entire borough). “Our Manhattan” stretches from Boyle Heights west to the Pacific. East Village::Koreatown, UES::Rancho Park, etc etc.
I agree with that Rich, but i think it’s fair to compare PARTS of downtown with micro-neighborhoods within Manhattan and/or (more apt) Brooklyn.
As someone who lived there for 9 years, i can tell you that there are many similarities between downtown and parts of New York in the early 1990s.
Go Little Radio! That would be so cool to have them there.
So Safari Sam’s has gone under and it’s some one else’s fault? Do they think that anyone believes that? Evicted from their Hollywood location, ‘Evicted’ from DTLA, Safari Sam’s is obviously incapable of running a business.
I hope any DTLA group reads the LACityBeat article about how Safari Sam Lanni cheated a group of cancer victims before they lift a finger to relocate this charlatan to another location where he will get ‘evicted’ for no fault of his own.
I don’t see other music venues going under, DTLA or greater L.A…
They always had alcohol for sale at the Regent and I checked with the ABC and they said Lanni had no liquor license and that he had been told not to sell alcohol. I went to a show on Dec. 19th – Emergenza – and had a couple of beers!
This guy seems to do -and say -whatever he wants to get his way and avoid responsibility. DTLA doesn’t need this kind of business anymore. The day of fly-by-night promoters is thankfully over. Plenty of businesses provide music, art and culture to DTLA. We don’t need this.
And what, exactly, is a “altercation”? I heard it was a gang fight at a hip-hop show. Let’s have more of that here.
Fuck Gilmore. Fuck little radio hipsters. I’d like to keep Silverlake at arms reach, thank you very much.
Safari Sams was the best addition to DTLA in a looong time. Los Crudos and Amebix playing around the corner? What kind of jackass refuses to renew a contract with that kind of awesomeness?
“The Regent will be having events regularly throughout the year prior to its reconstruction planned for the fall.”
What does reconstruction mean? Will the Regent be refurbished?
“Los Crudos and Amebix playing around the corner?”
Amebix was one of the shows Sam’s had to cancel in January. So, you never saw them at the Regent.
Little Radio rocks. And, unlike Mr. Lanni, they have survived – thrived – in DTLA for years. Amebix or no Amebix.
wtf?! i’m w/you anonymous….sooo, what does that mean for the amebix show? boooooooo
@BillyV: Starbucks has survived – thrived – for years as well. What a good argument you make! I moved to downtown precisely because commercial viability had very little bearing on the creative potentialities being explored here. Here’s hoping financial collapse returns some of that freedom to us. Who knows, maybe Al’s will make a victorious return and take over the Regent.
@s. No idea, but if anyone hears, please spread the word. I’ve been looking forward to that show since 1996
another sad news and it existed so very briefly… i didnt even have a chance to go yet
We can have a diversity of art/music/performance in DTLA. Just let us have someone with real integrity, not some shady, incompetent shuckster who will make noise, cry wolf and disappear in short order.
Let’s support someone who shows up for the long haul, someone who can back up the talk with the walk. Guys like Lanni are why the real visionaries get the short stick from theater owners and city bureaucrats. You can have a vision, talent and a gift – AND – work with the system. The other route just leaves a hole where real diversity of art should be.
…and I would have loved to see Amebix.
Sam Lanni is not in business because he is a liar who stole from and hurt a lot of people. He has never once taken responsibilities for his shortcomings and I know for a fact that he has not told the truth about the closing of either establishment. In fact, he appears to exhibit sociopathic behavior. It’s a bummer that a few band’s shows were canceled, it’s even more of a bummer that employees weren’t paid, debts weren’t paid, fundraisers weren’t paid… etc. I say good riddance. Just Google Sam Saverio Lanni and read about his check cashing business.
@Gillward: Google shows one entry that Lanni was fined in 2005 for making payday loans from a check cashing business that didn’t have a license to make loans. Wow, you’ve really got a silver bullet right there. I don’t know anything about this guy – he may well be a complete scumbag – but you’re gonna have to do better than that if you want to prove it.
In the meantime, Gilmore is essentially saying that they didn’t renew the lease with Sam’s because it didn’t fit what they wanted to cultivate in the neighborhood. Apparently Little Radio is a much better fit. That blows… and Gilmore has way too much power down here.
i think it is stories like this one from citybeat about sam lanni, the ‘sam’ in safari sam’s, that are being referred to.
@Jim: I read that article as well, and maybe I’m missing something? The guy offers up free use of his space for a 3-day festival that nets 30k in ticket sales, but he has messed up finances and delays paying out the last 25% or so… and somehow this earns him the reputation as a “liar,” “shady shuckster,” and “sociopath”?
I have yet to hear any support for the underlying suggestion here that Gilmore refused to renew the lease with Sam’s because Lanni is a bad person who can’t run a decent business. Quoth the manager above: “We chose not to book any additional events for business reasons. The business decision had nothing to do with anything other than to move forward with a different operating model. ” …And that operating model would be what? Move in little radio until they can do “reconstruction”? Yet another Gilmore owned and operated establishment is *sure* to bring in that creative diversity we’re talking about, right?
Hmm, should I pay any attention to the comments of the poster who thinks the deaths of millions of people, who have a different socio-economic status than himself, is amusing or desirable. And this while he pontificates about diversity?
I often wonder the same about your posts, Rose Kennedy.
Well, I’m not going to miss S-Sams, because I never wanted to see any of the shows there. Little Radio on the other hand, I’ve been to many times in my 3 years DT. (i heart summer camp!!!!!) Politics and Gillmore hatred aside..if they were at the Regent, it would be a great addition to this neighborhood.
@MillionsOfDeadYupsters : I understand. Most of what people are reading is hearsay, but I worked freelance at the Sunset location for a few months and I saw a lot of the crap that went on. The managers that worked there fought like hell to keep things going, while Sam made one horrible decision after another, often berating people in the process. I finally left because I wasn’t paid. A lot of people weren’t paid. When I answered the phone, many of the calls were debt collectors. Plus, the vibe deteriorated when the old managers left. However, this is what I saw and proving it to a skeptic might be difficult.
@ BillyV: I have purchased MANY drinks over the years at Little Radio. I have ‘donated’ at their bar and have been ‘given’ alcohol in exchange for a high ticket price to get in. All of these practices are illegal, and in your words associated with ‘fly-by-night promoting’. Everyone knows Little Radio lacks a liquor permit. In fact, friends purchased a drink at the donation bar at The Regent at Art Walk hosted by Little Radio this past week.
@Gillward: Proving what you are saying will be very difficult. Skeptic or not. Your posts are mostly untrue, ridiculous and blown out of context so you may issue a personal attack in a public forum. You did not freelance at the old place. You are not part of the art or music scene. You are not even involved in DTLA.
@Anon: Gillward is reporting the facts since I can confirm everything said is true. Any number of ex-Sam’s employees can relate the stories told above. They are not exaggerations, not ridiculous and the context is on the spot. Gillward never wrote about any DTLA connection. You must be pretty close to Sam to post such venom.
Donation bars are illegal. BYOB is illegal. Any alcohol without a permit is illegal in CA. What’s your point?
Safari Sam’s is gone. Good riddance! I’m sure the Regent regrets ever letting him in their building. If there is any justice, they’ll lock Sam up and throw away the key. I’m sure you know what for.
I worked at Safari Sam’s when it was over on Sunset. I have never seen Sam berate any of his employee’s. He’s a nice guy that really cared about bringing a great show. So paychecks were late. So he made some stupid choices. So what. I have worked for plenty of places on the scene and the same goes. And as for the ‘old’ management. Anyone who says that vibe was cool has got to be one of those old managers. That vibe sucked and it only got better there when those people left.
I think all you haters on here didn’t have a good experience. Fair enough. It happens. But usually that takes two. Shall we find a dungeon for all of you? And who gets the keys?
@FGM: My point is if you are going to lump Lanni into the shady category. Lump Gilmore and Little Radio too. There is no alcohol permit for Little Radio, never has been. There is no permit for The Regent. Is everyone shady? or just Lanni for being accused of what everyone else was/is doing?
I agree with CCrimson. There are plenty of places in town that support art and music that run in the red. It just plain happens. That doesn’t make someone shady either.
Yes, I do know Sam. Many people do. Most would tell you he is a great person. Most of the shit talk I have read on here is coming from stories made up by an angry ex-wife, her bff the old GM or some disgruntled employee or band. This kind of thing happens in life and business.
I have seen people like that spew “venom” as you put it, only to go back and work with the guy again. I have had less than desirable experiences at Little Radio, The Echo, Spaceland, The Troubador, heck, plenty of places all over this big city and I still go back.
One personal experience does not confirm rumors. The real issue is, unless you know what really has happened, you don’t have a thing to comment on other than your own hurt feelings. So keep it personal, to your own experience and move from the tabloid pack mentality. Save that for Hollywood. Art and Music should have shed this way of communicating long ago.
tin men! you have no heart! phonies in denial. delete what makes you uncomfortable? guilty? sam lani ripped off plenty of bands in his time, back in oc and all along. yeah that happens, I know, i wouldn’t wanna be in his shoes either. promoting sucks, but it was his choice. only a coward would blame his “bad decisions” on his ex wife. really… how much power can he give her? how long can he blame her. she was long gone by time of the cancer fund raising event and he blames writing a bad check on her too? really? haven’t any of you been thru a divorce? do you really believe his ex can just pop up and take other peoples money just because they are divorced? are we ignorant here or just uneducated? reality: all of the ex wife junk is rumor and excuses to hide behind. the other is stuff with real factual paper trails, bad checks and real victims, real debt that continued to build long after the ex wife excuses. these are real people that will never get paid. please, tell the whole los angeles music community that donated the time and money, tell the cancer victims that were depending on the missing money that the thousands of dollars and the bad check isnt real, just a rumor. tell all of the fine artists that contributed art and time. by leaving a trail of disgruntled employees and bands and friends and vendors and artists of all types that supported you, that’s the only reason sam has a bad rep. why else? hundreds of people dont just make this stuff up. get real. how weak some of you are. this is a cowardly blog too, just delete what bothers you, the truth.