Didn't their mascot fight with the WKRP Carp?
Posted on 07/23/2025 7:43:32 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The Catalyst Club, a historic music venue in Santa Cruz known for decades of unforgettable performances, is on the market for over $4 million, surprising many concertgoers who fear the potential loss of a beloved cultural landmark.
Located on Pacific Avenue, the Catalyst Club has a rich history dating back to the 1970s and has hosted many famous bands and artists of all genres, including SZA.
Advertisement The building is currently owned by Paul Gerhardt and other associates, who took on ownership after the passing of the founder, Randall Kane, in 2003.
The building is listed for $4.5 million, and the current lease extends through 2028.
Music lovers expressed concern that this iconic venue might be gone for good.
"The vibes honestly amazing, and I can't believe they're selling it," said Joe Carmona, a Santa Cruz resident. "I just heard about it this morning from my roommate, but I think it's not the smartest thing."
Another local, Andre Starns, expressed hope for the venue's future, saying, "Hopefully the buyers revamp it and continue the legendary trajectory of having so many people come out to Santa Cruz here. I know this is like one of the only spots that brings a lot of artists down to Santa Cruz, other than the Felton Music Hall."
Starns shared his experiences at the venue, saying, "I've seen a couple rap shows. I saw Dom Kennedy, saw Currency, saw Soulja Boy out here. That was interesting."
An employee, Matt Pierce, from Streetlight Records, located across the street, noted the venue's impact on downtown foot traffic.
"I'm a little surprised," Pierce said. "I will say that I haven't been to as many shows there lately. They haven't had the bands that I wanted to see as much, but it seems like a lot of times I'd see lines coming around the block."
The Downtown Association of Santa Cruz released a statement to KSBW 8, saying, "The Catalyst will be bringing music to Santa Cruz for years to come. We wish them continued success, and hope any new property owners coming into the district are supportive of iconic, destination attractions in Downtown Santa Cruz."
Efforts to reach one of the current owners for comment are ongoing.
I miss the days of KPIG radio.
Isn’t that still on, both online and radio?
The Catalyst Club in Santa Cruz, CA, opened in 1966 as the Catalyst Coffee House and Delicatessen in the Old St. George Hotel. It moved to its current location at 1011 Pacific Avenue in 1976.
I moved to the Bay Area in 1973 and settled in Palo Alto in 1978. But I’ve never been down to the Catalyst Club in all those years. We had great music and comedy venues in Silicon Valley.
You can subscribe to a podcast. And they broadcast on 2 FM stations which are too far away for me to get a signal.
They stopped doing AM radio about 15 years ago.
Santa Cruz ultra lib losers have the sads . Must be a good thing. For those not familiar, think of staggeringly beautiful Santa Cruz as being Berkeley-by-the-Sea
Hey, they have a conservative radio station there. And more conservatives than you would think.
Hey, they have a conservative radio station there. And more conservatives than you would think.
Indeed. You saw me talk about how beautiful it is. I lived in Santa Clara County for 20 years, so I know Santa Cruz well. Now I live in Republican Placer County. Just as there were 6 million Trump voters, so I’m sure there are conservatives deep behind enemy lines in Santa Cruz. But let’s not gild the lily too much….
HARRIS CARRIED SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BY 54 POINTS!!!!!
Saw Chuck Berry at the old Catalyst adjoining the old folks home.
“ Santa Cruz ultra lib losers have the sads . Must be a good thing. For those not familiar, think of staggeringly beautiful Santa Cruz as being Berkeley-by-the-Sea”
Yeah. I don’t really have positive thoughts about The Catalyst.Hippy leftist drug culture Mecca.
It’s hard to believe Randall Kane died more than 20 years ago.
I miss KFAT. PIG evolved from FAT. It’s more like devolved.
One of the last times on Pacific Ave. was to have my Mom’s jeweler appraised after she died. It used to be fun in the 70’s but there is no reason to go there now unless you want to be aggressively panhandled. The lowlifes don’t ask anymore. They demand.
KSCO 1080. 10KW. Daytime. Longtime home of Rush.
MZ, owner has been harassed and fined for things as idiotic as building a deck behind the station on the lagoon (groundplane) for gatherings. If I recall, he breached a sandbar with a shovel to prevent flooding and caught hell. Been around forever.
Berzerkley has bears. Uncle Charlie’s Summer Camp has banana slugs.
Found a total of TWELVE occurrences of "Catalyst Club" over the last CENTURY.
Most of those occurrences were for an athletic club (perhaps named after the venue?).
Can't have been that famous or iconic, with fewer than a dozen mentions in the local newspaper over all those decades.
Regards,
I grew up in Bonny Doon and had only been to CC once
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