Calgary music institution Hifi Club calls it quits after 15 years

A fixture of Calgary's music scene is closing its doors after 15 years. 

The Hifi Club in the Beltline announced ongoing operating costs while closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and difficulty with its landlord contributed to the closure. 

"We always did it for the love of the music and the love of the art," said co-owner Peter Emes. "That drove so many of our decisions over the years."

Word of the closure spread online, with many taking to social media to share their experiences at the club.

The venue played a huge role in Molly Fi's music career. 

"When I read that news, I cried," she told CBC News. "I'm crying still today. It's heartbreaking."

DJ Stickybuds remembers his gig at the Hifi in 2014, and attending his friends' shows.

"They curated and put their blood, sweat and tears into that place for forever," he said. "So it's just a terrible thing for the music industry."

The owners say this isn't the end. They're already thinking about opening a new space in the future, but it's unclear whether that would be a new iteration of the Hifi Club.