Si Tapas is scheduled to open before next Thursday’s show at Is, the new music venue above it.
PHOTO BY LINDSAY BARNES

Charlottesville version of Si Tapas, the popular tapas restaurant and bar in Richmond’s Fan District, will be opening next week in the old Starr Hill space on West Main, and along with it comes something to make local music fans rejoice–a new music venue. The last time we spoke to the Si folks back in July, there were no plans for a music venue, but the recently hired manger of Is (yes, Si backwards), Stew Hartman-Mart, says Si owner Mo Roman and his partners recognized a business opportunity. 

“The owners asked me what they should put in there,” says Hartman-Mart, ” and I suggested a music venue to fill the gap left by the closing of places like the Starr Hill Music Hall and the Satellite Ballroom.”

Hartman-Mart, who has taught ballroom and latin dance, worked in the catering business, and had lately been booking music acts, says the restaurant is scheduled to be open before the venue’s first show on Thursday, October 2 with Sweetbriar, the Sometime Favorites, and others. On Saturday, Hartman-Mart says Trees on Fire will headline and Bird Lips will open. Thursday’s show will be $5 and Trees will be $10. Doors open at 9pm and you must be 21 or over.

The venue will feature mostly regional music, says Hartman-Mart, but there will also be international dance nights and they will occasionally bring in DJs from New York.

Yesterday, we got a look inside the new venue, which has been completely renovated in bright Latin style.�