The owner of a beloved Auckland music venue says smaller crowds than usual and a proposed rent increase could force it to close for good.

Nineteen years ago, Rohan Evans opened the doors to a small Auckland music venue with big dreams. “We’re trying to do something with the music community that is more sustainable, and it’s generally worked,” says Evans, the founder of The Wine Cellar in St Kevin’s Arcade on Karangahape Road. “The main thing has been getting by, surviving and growing.”

Since 2003, that’s what The Wine Cellar has done, becoming an integral part of Aotearoa’s live music scene while providing a place for artists to learn how to craft their live performances. “You need places to build audiences and lock down ideas,” says Evans. “That’s part of what the Wine Cellar’s always been … We’re an important place for those more fringe musical things to happen.”

Along the way, local artists on their way to big things have graced the Wine Cellar’s stage, where rustic furnishings and pinball machines make it feel like a second home. It fits 50 people when seated, or 100 with the tables and chairs cleared out; artists like Tami Neilson, Reb Fountain, Delaney Davidson, The Beths and Marlon Williams have all performed there.

“There aren’t many active bands who’ve never had anything to do with the Wine Cellar,” Evans says. His supporters agree. “It is such a valuable part of our music community and eco-system,” says Neilson, “a place where up and coming artists can affordably gain experience and begin to build their audiences.” Hollie Smith agrees: “It’s so important to keep these small venues alive.”

All that could be about to change. The Wine Cellar remained afloat during Covid lockdowns thanks to government wage subsides and small venue support packages, but it may not survive what’s happening now. Since re-opening this year, attendance numbers have been trending down. “The cost of living has gone up, people are getting sick at different times and taking it easy and not coming out,” says Evans. “It’s snuck up on us … the last couple of months have been like, ‘Uh, what on Earth is happening?'”

Making matters worse, Evans says the venue is contesting a proposed 20% rent increase, backdated to October, from its landlords Icon Group, the property management firm owned by Paul Reid. “We’re trying to negotiate them down,” says Evans, who has struggled to get a response. “It’s hanging over us.” He isn’t sure if they’re being forced out because of the lack of answers. (Icon Group didn’t respond to a Spinoff request for comment, but Reid made his feelings known about The Wine Cellar’s neighbour Whammy Bar in a social media post earlier this year.)

How bad are things? Evans admits those lower crowd numbers means he can’t afford the proposed rent increase, and with a quiet January looming, the Wine Cellar would be forced to close if it goes ahead. “It would snuff us out,” he says. “Owing back rent to a landlord who is not particularly sympathetic is not something you can sustainably do for more than a month or two.”

That would be a massive blow to the local music industry after a wave of venue closures over the past five years, including the nearby Kings Arms, which was demolished to make way for an apartment block. It’s not just Auckland – Wellington’s Mighty Mighty and Bodega have also disappeared, while in Dunedin to OUSA-owned Starters Bar closed last year, and the future of the famed Sammy’s and Crown Hotel are up in the air.

A rallying cry has been ringing in response, with a GiveaLittle page set up, a Christmas karaoke night organised for this week, and multiple Trade Me auctions running, with the proceeds of the sales of a Playstation 5 console, speakers and vinyl all going towards keeping the Wine Cellar open.

Evans is grateful for the response, but what he really needs is a show of force to come through his doors. January, he says, is always the venue’s quietest time of year, and with that rent increase looming, his hopes are fading. “We’ve just been pushing to get people to book shows over January, which has always historically been our really quiet time,” he says.

For the first time since he opened the Wine Cellar’s doors, Evans is beginning to think about what might be next. “It’s what I’ve done for nearly 20 years,” he says. “This year has been the first year where it’s … a bit like, ‘God, I have to think about my plan B?’ But planning ahead it is difficult when you’re in this sort of financial hole.”