Statement From Stephen Talkhouse About Social Distancing And Their Future

With all the uncertainty and excitement, along with expectations of the upcoming 2020 summer season, I thought I would ask Stephen Talkhouse co-owner Nick Kraus about the upcoming season. He relayed this statement as things stand on April 27, 2020. It is very forthcoming of what other such venues are also thinking and facing.

“The Talkhouse has been monitoring the situation just like everyone else. The safety of our community comes first, of course, though we are eager to reopen once we get the green light. We shut down operations two weeks before any state mandates were required, as we felt it was the right thing to do. As the situation changes on a daily basis and we are living through unprecedented times it is of course impossible to say that we have any exact plan,” Kraus told Hamptons.com. “The understanding as of 4/26 from the Governor is that bars and nightclubs will be among the last to open is understandable though disappointing. We love what we do and also know that our staff depends on the income during the summer. We have been working hard to make sure our staff will be compensated as much as possible until we open. When the time comes we will be ready to follow any recommendations the government puts forward to allow us to be open and a safe environment for our staff and clientele. How that will look and develop we will see. Though we have been running the Talkhouse for decades, nobody has ever been in a situation like this. The beauty of the Talkhouse is its intimacy. Seeing your favorite act up close. Dancing close together. Having a drink together. This now creates an obstacle and we will all be working together to be back as soon as it’s safe to do so. Look for us to be doing some online events in the near future as soon as Phil and the crew learn how to ‘zoom’ and we look forward to seeing everyone in person once the time is right. Be safe.”