Koos founder Dennis Lluy is bringing his groundbreaking enterprise back to Santa Ana! “After five years in downtown Long Beach, storied all-ages venue Koo’s is officially returning to Santa Ana and a new home at the historic Yost Theater, where a no-longer non-profit Koo’s, Inc., will begin programming in January,” according to the OC Weekly.
This is great news for Santa Ana – particularly for our young people. There is not much to do here, but Koos will give us a place to enjoy music, art and our imagination.
According to Koos’ website, they serve “as a conduit for creative expression through the visual and performing arts, and providing a professional space for emerging and established artists. A music venue, educational art center and gallery, Koos recognizes the personal and cultural importance of all types of art. “
Here is a brief history lesson from the OC Weekly:
The original Koo’s, which Lluy helped start in 1994 in a former restaurant on north Main Street in Santa Ana, was arguably Orange County’s definitive all-ages venue. But Lluy voluntarily shuttered the venue in 2002 after a warning from the city of Santa Ana that donation policy and occupancy codes would be strictly enforced. Though Koo’s was currently pursuing a conditional use permit that would have cleared up technical legal issues, Lluy decided to avoid potential conflict with the city and relocated (after an interim stint in Garden Grove) to downtown Long Beach. Tensions with neighbors there over amplified music heavily curtailed Koo’s booking, however, and although the space eventually found new life as an art gallery, Koo’s never recovered its reputation as an all-ages live venue.
It figures that the City of Santa Ana drove Koos out of our city in the first place. I hope they get a better reception this time.
Koos’ first Santa Ana event is already booked: “SoundDowntown 2008 is a one-day music festival on Saturday, November 15, featuring a lineup of over 50 locally and nationally recognized bands, DJ’s and performing artists at various venues throughout the Artist’s Village of downtown Santa Ana,” according to the Koos Concerts website. Preferred advance tickets are $10 and general admission is $15 day-of.
Isn’t Koo’s a mostly young white peoples venue?
Is Koo’s going to be seen as the growing Artist Village gentrification hopping over Main Street and smack dap into the center of Fiesta market place?
This should be interesting to see how the cultures mix.
Art,
I have to disagree with you that this is a good thing. Dennis Lluy and his crowd were openly defiant to law and regulations set forth by the city. Koos attracted grafitti “artists” and other vandals and were terrible neighbors to those around them.
The only reason they had any support within the city is because folks like Tom Lutz, Don Cribb and Jim Kendrick wanted them because they portrayed themselves as part of the arts crowd. They were nothing more than delinquents and vandals.
Had this establishment catered itself to the Latino community and attracted young Latinos from Santa Ana neighborhoods I am quite sure Dennis would have had any support and I am sure the city would not be welcoming them back.
I am sure that the PD is not happy about Dennis bringing Koo’s back to Santa Ana and I am sure Long Beach is thrilled to be rid of them. Why are the leaving Long Beach anyway? Did they wear out their welcome there?
I went to many shows at Koo’s back in the day.
My friends bands played there. It was always a good time. I was sad to see it go.
Sean,
That was a very well explained response. I like Dennis and I am hopeful that he will endeavor to get our local young people involved.
As for the issues he had in Long Beach, they had to do with amplified sound. That is not an issue at the Yost.
I wish him well and look forward to attending some of his concerts.
Wow this like a blast from the past as like Danielle, I a 32 year resident of Santa Ana and attended many great shows at Koos it was always a great time. The graffiti art was mainly on their own walls from what I remember and it was not the same kind of crap graffiti that is constantly on our business in Santa Ana which is basically just tagging. Kind of exciting to think that my daughter has a chance to have some of the same experiences I have had in Santa Ana throughout my youth and young adulthood. Can’t wait to see who plays there.
Originally Koo’s was a GREAT Chinese take out establishment.
Where can you go in Santa Ana for good “non chain store” Chinese?
junior,
I like Peking Kitchen, over on 17th. I think it is near Ross. It is on the north side of the street, in a little strip center. Tony, the owner, has been there for years. They make everything fresh and the ambiance is nice.
junior
I remember you telling me you used to go to Koo’s when it was a Chinese food place when I started going there.
It was a great place to see shows. I always had fun there.
I did not usually hang out in Santa Ana much but it was nice to stay around home.
I do not remember that Koos ever had “shows”. All i really want to find out is where I can have their amazing food again? Koos was by far the BEST chinese food around! I still crave it soooo much. Please let me know where i can find it!
“Delinquents” such as Gwen stefani from no Doubt played there. Like Yeah Ok said, the graff artists are actual artist. The paint art, not crap.