Iconic Los Angeles Venue The Mayan to Close Its Doors

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The Mayan, a fixture in Downtown Los Angeles, will officially shut its doors under its current management in the fall, marking the end of a 35-year run.

It’s the end of an era in Los Angeles once again as another legendary venue in the city announced that it will be shuttering its doors. Today, The Mayan took to its social media channels to announce that the upcoming shows in the fall will be its last under current management.

“It is with heavy yet grateful hearts that we announce The Mayan will be closing its doors at the end of September, after 35 unforgettable years,” the official statement reads. “To our loyal patrons, community and friends: thank you for your unwavering support, your trust and the countless memories we’ve created together. You made every night truly special.”

Although the venue will end its run later this year, there’s still plenty of dancing to do at the venue until then. To celebrate its legacy, The Mayan will host free events every Saturday night until September 13. Currently, the final show at the venue will take place on Thursday, October 23, featuring The Dare and George Clanton.

First opened in 1927 as a performance arts theater, The Mayan underwent numerous transformations over the past century, hosting a diverse range of events, including plays, movies, actor workshops, and other cultural offerings. The multi-room venue in Downtown Los Angeles became renowned for its pre-Columbian decor, which pays homage to Mayan temple designs through its artwork and architectural flourishes, such as a replica Aztec calendar and giant bas-relief figures of the Maya god Huitzilopochtli.

Its more recent 35-year run kicked off in 1990, when it was repurposed as a nightclub and music venue. Some of the most legendary artists in the electronic music scene took the stage at The Mayan over the years. This included Daft Punk and The Prodigy in 1997, as well as Sasha and John Digweed in the early 2000s. Other acts, such as Barclay Crenshaw, Boys Noize, Dillon Francis, DEVAULT, Beats Antique, Moderat, and more, have taken the stage in recent years, alongside takeovers from WORSHIP (Sub Focus, Dimension, Culture Shock, and 1991) and Opulent Temple.

In true Los Angeles fashion, The Mayan was also used as a shooting location for numerous films and TV series. Scenes from A Night at the Roxbury, The Bodyguard, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, GLOW, and more were all shot at the venue. More recently, the venue has hosted everything from a luca libre and burlesque show, Lucha VaVoom de La Liz, to curated nights like Dulce, Bondage Ball, Fresh Vibes, Noche de Mamacitas, and more.

Details on what will replace the historic venue remain a mystery, but The Mayan’s status as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument leaves hope that it will be repurposed into something new.