Hundreds of Garfield students pass the CherryPit everyday. The silent locked doors of the building do not draw much attention to the average passerby. Many never got to experience this vibrant community space before it closed its doors for the final time last August. Located on East Cherry Street, the CherryPit served as a canvas for the local artists of Seattle. Creating a space for art walks, galleries, markets, and even concerts. These shows gained unexpected popularity throughout the punk scene of Seattle, and in no time the Cherrypit became a hotspot for the DIY community. The venue was a place for local musicians to grow their audience and bring listeners together. “When we put together our show there it went really well, and all the bands that played with us- it was good for us to build rapport with them… they played a fun show with us…” Cosmo Rossi said. Rossi is a member of the LoonieBoys- a duo that used to perform at the venue, “we were not yet a part of the punk scene, and they still treated us with a lot of respect.” Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before these concerts would lead to the untimely closure of the Cherrypit. After speaking further with the band, the story became more clear. “It was never zoned as a musical venue… they were not planning on having so many concerts.” Chris Chamberlin, the LoonieBoy’s corresponding half clarified. “It just became more popular within the music community.” After being informed of this zoning issue, the Cherrypit discontinued its concerts in March, returning to a visual arts focus on behalf of their landlord. This approach didn’t prove effective for long though, as the venue was deemed a disturbance to the neighborhood. “We wanted that to be a spot that we played at a lot. The experience was so great and so much better than other venue experiences we’ve had, we were looking forward to playing there a bunch. It was really sad they shut down,” Chamberlin said. The community surrounding the Cherrypit attempted to save the space by contacting the landlord and urging them to find a solution that would prove amicable to both sides. In the end, the building was forced to close, leaving attendees heartbroken at the loss of what was once an inviting and warm space for those of all backgrounds. “Nothing super awesome lasts forever like that. All the coolest sh*t y’know, you just gotta be happy that you experienced it.” Rossi stated. While the Cherrypits’ outcome may not have been positive, its existence served as a way to revive the punk scene of the Central District. The crowded, colorful concert nights of the venue will not soon be forgotten.